[Dismas]

The Supreme Court issued a ruling Wednesday that police may not generally search the cellphones of people they arrest without search warrants.

The justices, in a unanimous decision, said cellphones are powerful devices unlike anything else police may find on someone they arrest.

Chief Justice John Roberts said because the phones contain so much information, police must get a warrant before looking through them.

Personally, I'm extremely happy to see this. Anyone that's ever been detained by police will probably feel the same, as they normally take your cellphone. Regardless of if your cellphone has anything incriminating, it's no fun to have your cellphone taken and searched.

Source: Washington Post

[Eclipse]

Only in America? Sigh... A good move regardless, looks like the justice system is finally catching up with modern technology.

[MiS]

Funny, I just had to go to jury duty about a month ago for a case in which police searching a cell phone of the suspect was the main cause of evidence. However, some of the comments on that Washington Post page kind of worry me.

Does anyone honestly think that this ruling will prevent the police from going through a suspects cellphone anyway? It won't. This ruling will prevent the evidence in a phone from being used in court unless it was obtained via a warrant.

This is how it will go: Officer 1, Say Joe, get a load of all this great evidence! Officer 2, Holy cow John, quick, call our favorite judge and get a warrant so we can use it as evidence.

Back to square 1.

Regarding the searching and seizing of cell phones. This practice was prevalent in the early 2000's when in my hometown, a self serving drug task force person would confiscate cell phones upon the incarceration of anyone suspected of having knowledge of people previously arrested for drugs. Once in jail, the cell phones would be retrieved from the personal belongings of the incarcerated individuals. This drug task officer would then take it to his office in the Sheriff's office and go through the incoming calls and the outgoing calls without a warrant. He then was allowed to have access to all the cell numbers by the local cell phone company that installed the radios in the S. O. and P D police cruisers. From those numbers the task force person would then set up watches on the people listed on the incarcerated's phone list. When a query by me was asked of the District Attorney, i was advised then a search warrant should have been requested, but never was. I am not a supporter of illegal drugs. But to illegally search and seize property is the issue. If they do it with cell phones, what is to prevent them from coming into homes without a search warrant?

[bunnie_clyde]

This is a big victory for the 4th ammendment

[xornull]

You guys are 1 step closer to true liberty!
9000 more to go!

[Boudica]

This is good... but I wonder why it's taken so long for them to come out with this. Considering how long cell phones have been around...

[qwert]

lol interesting thing , isnt it

[omgwhitemagic]

This is a good thing. Cops sometimes have too much privledges

[Drago1111]

A victory for strengthening the 4th Amendment. Now get rid of the Patriot Act and we might be on our way back to a real Republic.

[dryhumper]

Just because the police have your cellphone it doesn't mean that they are going through it. If you are being arrested it would just be placed in your property