Warrants shall be issued only upon what condition?

• A. Probable cause
• B. Reasonable suspicion
• C. Consent
• D. Open field observation

Answer: (A)

Probable cause is the standard that must be met to obtain a warrant. It means there must be a fair probability, based on reliable facts and circumstances, that a crime has been committed and that evidence or persons connected to the crime will be found in the place to be searched. This threshold is set to protect privacy while allowing searches when there is a solid link between the suspicion and the location or items.

A warrant can't be issued on mere hunch or vague suspicion. Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard used for limited police actions like stop-and-frisk, not for securing a warrant for a broad search. Consent can remove the need for a warrant entirely if someone with authority freely agrees to the search. Open field observation, while it may inform investigators about what is visible from public view, does not by itself establish the probable cause needed to justify a warrant for a specific search or seizure.