Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

Drug possession at home

If I suspect my neighbor or a realative or any person of having drugs on their property, (Not grotesque amounts for sale, personal use amounts) If I call the police and report that, is that enough information for the police to go to that residence and search and arrest the person or persons in the home?


Asked on 12/13/06, 2:56 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Re: Drug possession at home

No, simply put. We all have an expectation of privacy in our homes, and the government is not allowed to destroy our feelings of safety and privacy unless they have a certain quantum of proof that criminal activity is afoot. Mere suspicion is quite insufficient.

If you had specific and recently obtained factual knowledge (for example, if you saw drugs with your own eyes) and you provided your name and personal information to the police to be included in the application for the warrant, this would probably be enough.

In the end, you have to ask yourself if you feel comfortable as an informant against a mere drug possessor. When you answer that question, you'll know what to do.

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Answered on 12/13/06, 3:18 pm


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