Jardines v. Florida
Annotate this CaseThe Court considered whether a "sniff test" by a drug detection dog conducted at the front door of a private residence is a "search" under the Fourth Amendment, and if so, whether the evidentiary showing of wrongdoing that the government must make prior to conducting such a search is probable cause or reasonable suspicion. A Crimestoppers tip alerted police to a private home where drugs were suspected; officers arrived at the house with a drug detection dog. The dog alerted to the scent of marijuana, and on approaching the house, police then smelled the scent. The magistrate supressed the evidence seized at the home, and the State appealed. Petitioner Jardines sought review by the Court on a certified question that conflicted with state law pertaining to whether the "sniff test" was a violation of his constitutional rights. Concluding that the dog "sniff test" conducted here was an intrusive procedure because it took place in the home, the Court held that results of the "sniff test" were properly withheld from the magistrate's probable cause determination.
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.