Nolo was born in 1971 as a publisher of self-help legal books. Guided by the motto “law for all,” our attorney authors and editors have been explaining the law to everyday people ever since. Learn more about our history and our editorial standards.
Each article that we publish has been written or reviewed by one of our editors, who together have over 100 years of experience practicing law. We strive to keep our information current as laws change. Learn more about our editorial standards.
In criminal law, a phrase that describes law enforcement's gathering of evidence of a crime. Under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, any search of a person or their premises (including a vehicle), and any seizure of evidence, must be reasonable. Normally, law enforcement must obtain a search warrant from a judge, specifying with particularity where and whom they may search, and what they may seize. In some emergency and other urgent circumstances, police can dispense with the warrant requirement.