What does the "good faith exception" allow police to do?

The "good faith exception" allows police to admit evidence that was obtained in violation of an individual's rights under certain circumstances, specifically when officers had a reasonable belief that their actions were in compliance with the law at the time of the search or seizure. This principle is rooted in the idea that excluding evidence would not serve the purpose of the exclusionary rule, which is to deter police misconduct.

For example, if police officers conduct a search based on a warrant that they believe to be valid, but the warrant is later found to be defective, the evidence obtained may still be admissible in court under the good faith exception, provided the officers acted in good faith and with reasonable reliance on the warrant. This exception helps balance the need to uphold constitutional protections while also ensuring that relevant evidence is not discarded due to procedural errors that did not stem from deliberate misconduct.

The other choices do not accurately describe the scope and application of the good faith exception.