Florida v. Jimeno

Florida v. Jimeno was a decision by the United States Supreme Court involving the exclusionary rule of evidence.

Background
A police officer pulled over Jimeno for a traffic violation after following him due to information that he may have been involved in a drug deal. Jimeno consented to a search of his car, but nothing more. The officer opened up a package and found cocaine inside. At court Jimeno argued that his consent to search his car did not extend to his permission to search within containers and packages. The lower court and the Florida Supreme Court upheld that Jimeno's consent did not cover the officer's efforts and thus ruled in Jimeno's favor. The State of Florida appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

Result
In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court overturned the lower courts' decision and ruled that the officer's search of containers within the car were not considered unreasonable. Since a reasonable person would expect narcotics to be carried in a container, and because the officer told Jimeno of his suspicions, the court ruled the officer acted within reason. Jimeno was thus found guilty and the officer was not in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

This case grants law enforcement greater ability and liberty to conduct searches. It also narrows the definition of unreasonable searches and thus limits the protection citizens can seek against such searches. Evidence cannot be excluded from a case if it is deemed to have been discovered through reasonable means.