Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> Palm Beach Criminal Defense Blog

Criminal Law

: Palm Beach Criminal Defense Blog

When the Police Come Knocking

By Ron Chapman

Florida law states that the police may break open a door leading into a home if:  The police have a warrant. The police announce who they are and what they want. The occupant of the home refuses to let the police enter his home after the police have waited a reasonable period of time after knocking and announcing their purpose.There has been a great deal of litigation regarding precisely how long the police must wait after knocking and before breaking down a door to a home.However, there are 4 exceptions to the rule that the police must wait a reasonable period of time after knocking and before breaking down someone's door.  Those exceptions are: Those inside the home already know that the police are outside, and they know what the police want; or The police reasonably believe that those inside the home are in danger of being physically harmed; or The danger to the police would increase if the police simply waited outside the door; or Those inside the home might try to escape or destroy evidence...continue to full post

Full post as published by Palm Beach Criminal Defense Blog on January 09, 2008 (boomark / email).