What happens if police fail to follow the knock and announce rule?

In the context of the knock and announce rule, the correct outcome when police fail to properly follow this procedure is that there are generally no consequences for the admissibility of the evidence obtained as a result of the search. The knock and announce rule is designed to respect the privacy and dignity of individuals in the home and to prevent violent confrontations. However, a violation of this rule does not automatically lead to the suppression of evidence unless it can be shown that the violation resulted in a constitutional infringement that impacted the admissibility of the evidence.

The reliance on the good faith exception also plays a critical role; if officers believe that it was reasonable to enter without announcing, evidence obtained during such a search may still be admissible in court. While the guest's rights may be infringed, the courts have generally held that the evidence obtained during a search, even if it violates this rule, does not automatically make that evidence inadmissible.

Therefore, while violations of the knock and announce rule can be significant and may lead to other ramifications such as civil liability or internal disciplinary action against officers, the lack of consequences for the evidence itself is the central point in this scenario.