Write down a letter in which you suppose the role of any modern United States senator. Direct your letter to the Congress of the United States. In it, either defend the use of the exclusionary rule, or explain why the exclusionary rule was not intended to be used as an enforcement technique for violations of the Fourth Amendment.
In the letter:
- Define the scope and limitations of the Fourth Amendment.
- Explain what you think should happen if the police conduct an illegal search and seizure: Should the evidence be allowed or excluded from trial? Should police be granted certain exceptions in using illegally obtained evidence? Why or why not?
- Identify and cite case examples that support your argument. You may use examples identified in Issue 4 of Debating Crime, or on the Internet.
- If you argue that the exclusionary rule should be abolished, propose an alterative for deterring police misconduct.