Under which condition can officers make a search and seizure without a warrant?

Officers can make a search and seizure without a warrant during hot pursuit of a fleeing felon due to the exigent circumstances exception to the warrant requirement. This exception recognizes that law enforcement may need to act quickly to apprehend a suspect who poses a threat to public safety or is likely to destroy evidence. The principle behind this is to balance the needs of effective law enforcement with the rights of individuals, allowing officers to pursue a suspect and enter private property without a warrant if they are in immediate pursuit.

In the case of a hot pursuit, the urgency of the situation justifies the lack of a warrant because waiting for a warrant could result in the loss of evidence or the escape of the suspect. This legal framework is rooted in the need to ensure officer and public safety, as well as the integrity of the criminal justice process.

The other conditions mentioned do not typically qualify for warrantless searches. For instance, minor infractions generally do not justify a search without a warrant, as the violation does not meet the threshold of exigent circumstances. A lack of anyone being home does not provide grounds for warrantless entry either; there must be an immediate threat or need to secure evidence. Likewise, while emergencies may allow for warrantless searches, they are usually defined