What is probable cause in criminal procedure?

Probable cause is a legal standard used in criminal procedure that requires law enforcement to establish a reasonable suspicion that a person might have committed a crime. This means that law enforcement must prove that there is a strong enough likelihood that a crime has occurred for them to take action, such as making an arrest or obtaining a search warrant. In Nevada, the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights defines what probable cause is. It states that probable cause exists if a reasonable person, who is trained, experienced, and informed, believes that a person has committed an offense under the law. The state of Nevada also requires that a warrant must be issued based on probable cause before any search or arrest can be made. In addition, the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches or seizures. If a law enforcement officer is found to have violated this amendment, any evidence found may be inadmissible in court. Thus, in order to ensure that due process is followed, it is essential that probable cause exists when making arrests, searches, and seizures.

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