What happens if the police are not within 15 minutes of the fleeing felon?

In the context of criminal procedure, "hot pursuit" refers to a legal doctrine that allows police to enter a private property without a warrant if they are following a suspect who is fleeing the scene of a crime. This principle is rooted in the need to prevent the suspect from evading arrest and to ensure public safety.

If the police are not within a reasonable timeframe, typically conceptualized around 15 minutes, of the fleeing felon, it indicates that the immediacy of the pursuit has dissipated. The rationale behind this is that the reason for the exigent circumstances — preventing the escape of a suspect — no longer applies. By exceeding this timeframe, law enforcement may no longer claim that they are in "hot pursuit," which would invalidate any warrantless entry based on that doctrine.

Thus, if the officers are not within that time span, the pursuit ceases to meet the legal threshold of "hot pursuit," and they are then required to obtain a warrant to enter the property or conduct a search. This ensures that the rights of individuals are upheld and that police actions remain within the bounds of constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.