2020 Lesson 1: Legal Update

This is an online, Missouri-specific legal studies course. The lesson addresses recent court decisions providing guidance to Missouri law enforcement officers regarding: 

• When officers may search items seized from a person during a search incident to arrest; 

• Whether courts distinguish between items seized from a suspect’s person and items seized from near the suspect during a search incident to arrest; 

• Whether a warrant is needed to search the cell phone of a person on supervised release; 

• When officers who use Tasers to seize a suspect will be denied qualified immunity in an excessive force lawsuit; 

• When a person is in custody; and

• Whether officers must give Miranda warnings to persons who are restrained for medical reasons before conducting an interview.