Police Vehicle Searches Incident to Arrest: Evaluating Chief Perception of Search Conduct Post-Gant

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

In 2009, in Arizona v. Gant, the United States Supreme Court significantly altered the rule related to a police search of a vehicle incident to the arrest of a vehicle occupant (i.e., the Belton rule). This research study stems from a detailed survey of police chiefs in major U.S. cities regarding their perceptions of Gant. Emphasis here is given to chiefs’ perceptions of their specific conduct related to vehicle searches in the wake of Gant.

Author

• Christopher D. Totten, Kennesaw State University