Permanent seizure description

• A. Probable cause that the item or person is engaged in unlawful activity.
• B. Does not require probable cause if there is a search warrant.
• C. Consent is sufficient.
• D. No cause.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that a permanent seizure by the government requires probable cause that the item or person is involved in unlawful activity. Probable cause is a reasonable belief based on facts that a crime is connected to the item or person, and it is the threshold that justifies depriving someone of their property. A warrant is issued only when probable cause exists, so saying a seizure doesn’t need probable cause if there’s a warrant is incorrect—probable cause underlies the warrant itself. Consent can authorize a seizure without probable cause, but that’s an exception, not the rule. No cause is not acceptable because there must be justification for taking property permanently. Thus, the description that best fits a permanent seizure is the presence of probable cause that the item or person is engaged in unlawful activity.