California+v+Greenwood

=**California V. Greenwood**=

**Janurary 11, 1988 - May 16, 1988**
Police suspected Bill Greenwood was dealing drugs from his home. The police did not have enough evidence for a warrant to search his home, so they searched his trash that Greenwood had set out. The police found evidence of drug use, which was used to obtain a warrant to search his house. They found illegal substances and Greenwood was arrested for felony charges.

__**Case Basics**__
86-684
 * Docket No.**

California
 * Petitioner**

Greenwood
 * Respondent**

Rehnquist Court (1987-1988)
 * Heard By**

Rehnquist Court (1988-1990)
 * Decided By**

486 U.S. 35 (1988)
 * Opinion**

Monday, January 11, 1988
 * Argued**

Monday, May 16, 1988
 * Decided**

__Conlusion__

 * Decision:** 6 votes for California, 2 vote(s) against
 * Legal provision:** Amendment 4: Fourth Amendment

The court held that the trash was unprotected by the Fourth Amendment. They argued that there was no reasonable expectation of trash on the streets, "readily accessible to animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and other members of the public." The court also said that police cannot be expected to ignore criminal activity that could be seen by any member of the public.

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