Question

greenwood case

Answer 1

In 1984, Laguna Beach Police searched thrash kept by Billiy Greenwood and Van Houten outside the home on information about they being induldge in selling of illegal drugs. The California Superior court dismissed the charges against Greenhood and Van Houten on ground that unwarranted thrash searches violated U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment, as well as the California Constitution.

However, the Supreme Court of United States held that the Fourth Amendment does not prohibit the warrantless search and seizure of garbage left for collection outside the curtilage of a home and reversed the judgement of the California Court of Appeal. The Court held that the thrash keep out side the home as Greenwood has no reasonable expectation of privacy in it as it was kept to be taken for dump by thrash collector who is an stranger for it. Further, the thrash was "readily accessible to animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and other members of the public.” Thus it does not violates the provision of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.