Criminal Procedure

Knock-and-Announce


Generally, officers must knock and announce their presence when entering a home while executing a warrant. However, courts apply a reasonableness test to this requirement which allows exceptions for several reasons where knocking and announcing would cause more harm than good:

  • Exigent circumstances
  • HP
  • Officer safety
  • Preventing the destruction of evidence

Note that the exclusionary rule does not apply to evidence obtained in violation of the knock-and-announce rule anyway.