Supreme Court Upholds Warrantless Police Entry of Home to Prevent Harm

The Fourth Amendment is not violated when police enter a home without a warrant in some circumstances, the court found.

Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court pose for their official photo at the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 7, 2022. (Front L–R) Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Elena Kagan. (Back L–R) Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Jan. 14 that police do not need to obtain a warrant to enter a home when they reasonably believe a person inside needs emergency assistance.

The ruling upholds what lawyers call the community caretaker doctrine. The doctrine holds that police don’t always operate as law enforcement officers investigating wrongdoing, but sometimes function as community caretakers to prevent harm in emergencies.