409 P.3d 837
Idaho2018Background
- In 2014 Jaskowski pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI and entered 18 months supervised probation; his supervision agreement included a clause consenting to "warrantless searches ... at the request of my Probation Officer."
- On April 15, 2016, police stopped Jaskowski for driving with denied privileges after a warrant for his arrest was recalled; his probation officer arrived on scene.
- The probation officer announced he was going to search Jaskowski’s pickup, began the search without asking Jaskowski to submit, and later asked police to take Jaskowski into custody; police completed the search.
- Officers discovered two methamphetamine pipes; Jaskowski admitted recent use and was charged with felony possession plus misdemeanors.
- The district court found the probation officer never requested consent to search (only declared an intention) and suppressed evidence under State v. Turek; the State appealed.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether a probation condition permitting warrantless searches "at the request of" an officer allows an officer to simply announce an intent and proceed without requesting the probationer to submit | State: "At the request of" requires only informing the probationer of the officer's intent; the probation condition constitutes a broad waiver of Fourth Amendment rights | Jaskowski: The clause conditions the waiver on an actual request to the probationer to submit to a search; an announcement without a request exceeds the scope of the waiver | Court: The phrase "at the request of" requires an actual request to submit when the probationer is present; because no request was made, the search exceeded the waiver and suppression was affirmed. |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Turek, 150 Idaho 745 (Ct. App. 2011) (interpreting "at the request of" language to require informing the probationer of an impending search and emphasizing scope-of-consent analysis)
- State v. Purdum, 147 Idaho 206 (Idaho 2009) (probation search/ seizure analysis depends on waiver language; consent can imply limited seizures tied to probation terms)
- State v. Gawron, 112 Idaho 841 (Idaho 1987) (upholding an express, broad waiver of Fourth Amendment rights in probation agreement)
- State v. Hindman, 866 P.2d 481 (Or. Ct. App. 1993) (court concluded "at the request of" requires prior request to probationer)
- People v. Mason, 488 P.2d 630 (Cal. 1971) (considered in construing probation search clauses and limits on unannounced searches)
