Challenging the Police K9 Narcotics Search

• In Event: Challenging the Consensus in Policing

Abstract

Courts routinely accept police K9 alerts as probable cause in narcotics searches. Using Bayesian simulations, we demonstrate that the likelihood of finding contraband after a K9 alert frequently falls below acceptable probable cause thresholds, commonly below 5% in suspicionless contexts and rarely exceeding 30% where the officer establishes reasonable suspicion. Furthermore, racial disparities and handler bias exacerbate these inaccuracies, undermining constitutional legitimacy. These findings demand recalibrating evidentiary standards and policies governing police K9 use.

Authors

• Ian T. Adams, University of South Carolina

• Paige Vaughn, University of South Carolina

• Scott Mourtgos, University of South Carolina