California v. Greenwood (1988) is a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court that addressed the issue of privacy under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The case involved law enforcement officers who, without a warrant, searched the garbage left on the curb outside Billy Greenwood’s home and found evidence that led to his arrest for drug trafficking. Greenwood argued that the search violated his Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures.
The Supreme Court ruled in a 6-2 decision that the warrantless search and seizure of garbage left for collection outside the home is constitutional. The Court held that individuals do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy for items discarded in public areas like the curb, where they are accessible to animals, scavengers, and anyone else, including police officers.
This decision had significant implications for privacy rights in the United States, establishing that trash left in a public space is not protected by the Fourth Amendment. The case continues to influence legal interpretations of privacy, particularly regarding the accessibility of information left in public places. The ruling highlights the balance between law enforcement practices and the expectation of privacy, impacting both criminal investigations and broader discussions about privacy in the digital age.
