No. 01-8047October Term 2001Decided Mar 4, 2002
Perez v. United States
This case considers whether police officers can search a person's backpack or luggage without a warrant after the person has been arrested and the bag is safely secured.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Mar 4, 2002
- What it's about
This case considers whether police officers can search a person's backpack or luggage without a warrant after the person has been arrested and the bag is safely secured.
Question presented
Whether the Fourth Amendment prohibits the warrantless search of a backpack, piece of luggage, or other bag carried by an individual at the time of his arrest once police have secured the bag and eliminated any possibility of reaching a weapon or evidence inside it.
- Case path
Decision released Mar 4, 2002
- Area
Criminal Procedure
Timing
Decided March 4, 2002
The Court released its decision on March 4, 2002 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology