Forced entry without an arrest warrant is permissible for felony suspects when

Forced entry without an arrest warrant is permissible for felony suspects when

• A. The officer believes entry is immediately necessary to prevent harm, destruction of evidence, or escape.
• B. Consent from the occupant is required.
• C. A search warrant is required.
• D. The home is unoccupied.

Answer: (A)

Exigent circumstances. When there is an immediate need to protect life or safety, prevent the destruction of evidence, or stop a suspect from escaping, officers may enter a home without a warrant. The option describes entry being immediately necessary to prevent harm, preserve evidence, or prevent escape, which fits this emergency exception to the warrant requirement. The other scenarios don’t create that urgent need: consent can allow entry without a warrant but isn’t about forcing entry under urgency; a warrant is normally required for a non-emergency entry; and an unoccupied home by itself doesn’t establish the imminent risk or risk of evidence destruction or flight.

Exigent circumstances. When there is an immediate need to protect life or safety, prevent the destruction of evidence, or stop a suspect from escaping, officers may enter a home without a warrant. The option describes entry being immediately necessary to prevent harm, preserve evidence, or prevent escape, which fits this emergency exception to the warrant requirement. The other scenarios don’t create that urgent need: consent can allow entry without a warrant but isn’t about forcing entry under urgency; a warrant is normally required for a non-emergency entry; and an unoccupied home by itself doesn’t establish the imminent risk or risk of evidence destruction or flight.