The ____________________ refers to handing over the results of private investigations to the authorities because of indications of criminal activity.
The ____________________ refers to handing over the results of private investigations to the authorities because of indications of criminal activity.
The Silver-Platter Doctrine refers to the practice of handing over evidence obtained by state officers to federal authorities, even if it was gathered without respecting due process. This doctrine allowed for the results of private investigations indicating criminal activity to be submitted to the authorities. The term originally described the scenario where state officials would turn over evidence to federal officials to circumvent constitutional restrictions on illegal search and seizure, but today it generally refers to any situation involving the turnover of such privately obtained results to authorities.
In criminal law, this was a doctrine that a federal court could introduce illegally or improperly state-seized evidence, as long as federal officers had played no role in obtaining it. The doctrine was declared unconstitutional in 1960 (Elkins v. United States).
The Silver-Platter Doctrine admits evidence obtained illegally by a state police officer, as long as a federal officer did not participate in or request the search.