Introduction: Mapp v. Ohio is a landmark case in U.S. constitutional law that addressed the issue of the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. Decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1961, the case significantly influenced the application of the exclusionary rule, which prohibits evidence obtained through illegal searches or seizures from being used in criminal trials. This synopsis provides an in-depth analysis of the case, its background, legal arguments, Supreme Court decision, and its enduring impact on criminal procedure jurisprudence. Background: In 1957, Cleveland police officers arrived at the home of Dollree Mapp, suspecting that a fugitive was hiding there. Mapp refused to admit them without…show more content… They contended that the search violated Mapp's Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. Furthermore, they asserted that Ohio's use of illegally obtained evidence in state criminal proceedings violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which incorporates the Fourth Amendment's protections against the states. Supreme Court Decision: In a landmark 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mapp, holding that the exclusionary rule applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment. Writing for the majority, Justice Tom C. Clark asserted that the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures is a fundamental right essential to the preservation of personal liberty. Therefore, evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, regardless of whether it was obtained by state or federal authorities, is inadmissible in state criminal trials. The Court overturned Mapp's conviction, establishing the principle that the exclusionary rule is a necessary deterrent against police misconduct and a safeguard of individual
