A police officer aggressively knocks on your door. You open the door a crack and ask them why they’re at your house and what they would like. The officer tells you that they need to come inside, either to talk to you or to look around.
The way that they say it makes it sound as if you have no choice in the matter. They are just informing you of what you need to do and you have to follow those orders. But is this accurate? Could you actually deny entry if you don’t want the police to come into your home?
Do they have a warrant?
You are not legally obligated to give your consent to the police officer. If you would like to tell them they can’t enter your home, it is well within your rights to do so. You cannot be arrested for that, and you have not violated the law.
That being said, if they do have a warrant, then they can enter your home without your consent or permission. It is wise to ask the officer if you can see the warrant if they claim to have one. You may also want to check the document to see if there are any restrictions in scope, such as where the police can look or what they are supposed to be looking for.
Finally, some emergency situations will allow the police to enter a home and then prove that they had probable cause after the fact. An example of this could be if they’re in hot pursuit of a suspect. These cases are rare, however, and most involve either consent or a warrant.
Understanding your rights.
As you can see, it’s very important to understand all of the rights you have and your legal options when you have to deal with the police.