Search and seizure

Search and seizure is when someone, usually a police officer, looks through your things or takes them away.

Imagine that you have a special box with all your toys inside. Now imagine that a police officer comes to your house and asks to look inside your box. They might do this if they think there is something inside your box that you shouldn't have, like a stolen toy, or if they think you were doing something wrong.

The police officer will need a good reason to look inside your box. This is called probable cause.

If the police officer has probable cause, they can search through your box and take away something they think is wrong. This is called seizure.

But the police officer can't just search through your box anytime they want. They need to follow rules to make sure they are doing it fairly. This includes getting permission from your parent or guardian, or getting a special paper called a warrant that says they can search your things.

It's important to remember that everyone has rights, even kids. If you feel like someone is searching or taking away your things unfairly, you should tell a grown-up you trust.