Landmark policing decisions translated into plain English for the officers who live them.
Doctrine Channels
Start with a legal theme, then follow the cases that explain what it means in the field.
Focused explainers and case briefs connected to Evidence Procedure.
Focused explainers and case briefs connected to First Amendment Public Order.
Focused explainers and case briefs connected to Fourth Amendment.
Focused explainers and case briefs connected to Fourth Amendment Traffic Stops.
Focused explainers and case briefs connected to Miranda Interrogation.
Focused explainers and case briefs connected to Police Pursuit.
Focused explainers and case briefs connected to Police Pursuits.
Focused explainers and case briefs connected to Pursuits Vehicle Operations.
Video Library
Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz
For police officers, Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz means that DUI checkpoints are not automatically unconstitutional just because officers lack individualized suspicion for each driver stopped. A checkpoint may be lawful if it is structured, limited, and aimed at roadway safety rather than general crime control.
Brady v. Maryland
Brady v. Maryland requires prosecutors to disclose material evidence favorable to the accused when it bears on guilt or punishment. The rule protects the fairness of criminal trials and applies regardless of whether the prosecution acted in good or bad faith.
Pearson v. Callahan
Pearson v. Callahan changed qualified immunity procedure. The Court held that judges are no longer required to decide the constitutional violation question before asking whether the law was clearly established.
Featured Cases
Fourth Amendment traffic stops
Pennsylvania v. Mimms: a routine expired-plate stop became a major Fourth Amendment rule: police may order a driver out of a lawfully stopped car, but a frisk still needs a weapon-safety justification.
Evidence Procedure
For officers and detectives, California v. Greenwood supports the use of curbside trash pulls as an investigative technique under the federal Fourth Amendment. If garbage has been placed out for collection in an area accessible to the public and outside the home’s curtilage, officers generally do not need a warrant to seize and search it.
Evidence Procedure
For police officers and detectives, Segura v. United States is an important reminder that a valid warrant can preserve evidence only when the warrant is truly independent of any earlier mistake. If officers enter too soon without a warrant, they risk suppression of anything discovered during that entry.
Weekly Case Brief
One landmark policing case, explained and translated every week. Built for officers, students, and anyone who wants to understand how courts shape the street.