> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://studies-de-jure.gitbook.io/learn/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://studies-de-jure.gitbook.io/learn/sourcebooks/introduction-to-law/introductory-criminal-procedure-principles/chimel-v.-california/brief-chimel-v.-california.md).

# Brief: Chimel v. California

**Facts**

* Police officers, armed with an **arrest warrant for Chimel for burglary, arrived at his home**. Chimel's **wife allowed them inside**. (Chimel was not there, and officers waited.)
* When Chimel arrived, **he was arrested.**
* Conducted an extensive search of the entire three-bedroom house, including the attic, garage, and workshop.
* Search was about one hour
  * involved the officers directing Chimel's wife to move items in drawers so they could view anything connected to the burglary.
  * Numerous items, primarily coins, were seized and later used as evidence to convict Chimel on burglary charges.

**Issue** Did the warrantless search of Chimel’s entire house, conducted incident to a lawful arrest, violate his Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures?

**Holding:** Yes.

The search of Chimel's entire house was unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment. The **scope of a search incident to a lawful arrest is limited to the arrestee's person and the area within his immediate control.**

**Rule:**

* Search incident to (lawful) arrest are an exception to warrant requirement
  * The permissible **scope** of a search incident to a lawful arrest extends **only to the arrestee's person and the area within his immediate control**
    * i.e., the area from within which he might gain possession of a weapon or destructible evidence.

**Reasoning**

* A broad exception to the warrant requirement based on search incident to arrest:
  * **inconsistent** with the Fourth Amendment's purpose of protecting individuals from unreasonable intrusions into their privacy.
  * Importance of the warrant requirement, stating that **"the burden is on those seeking \[an] exemption \[from the requirement] to show the need for it."**
  * Justification: (1) officer safety and (2) preventing the destruction of evidence
  * limited to the area within the arrestee's immediate control.


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