Perm University Herald. Juridical Sciences. 2018. Issue 2 (40)

P. S. Pastukhov, Perm State University

G. Y. Borisevich, Perm State University

Introduction: the article analyzes actual and legal grounds for limitation of civil rights when making searches in the criminal procedure of the USA as well as the constitutionally guaranteed personal rights provided for by the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The research subject are the differences between continental and Anglo-American models of criminal procedure, the role of the police in apprehension, search and seizure of objects of criminal origins. The article investigates the role of the Supreme Court in the development of doctrines containing legal grounds to stop, search and arrest individuals suspected of criminal activities in various spheres. The paper shows how important it is to study and make use of other countries’ experience in combating crime. Purpose: to provide insights into the peculiarities of applying coercive measures when making searches, the observance of constitutionally protected civil rights and liberties, and providing balance between legal enforcement and liberty. Methods: the methodological framework of the research is based on a set of methods of scientific cognition, with dialectical method being the leading one. The study used general scientific methods (dialectics, analysis and synthesis, abstracting and specification) and specific scientific ones (comparative legal and technical legal). Results: the research results include analysis of legislative regulation, case law development, practice in the application and interpretation of actual and legal limitations of civil rights when making searches in the criminal procedure of the USA, and also constitutional guarantees of civil rights in this country. It is shown that in the course of social development, increase in crime, appearance of forensic equipment allowing for intrusion into privacy, there has been a change in the understanding and legislative regulation of the grounds for making searches. Conclusions: the major part in the clarification of the limits of intrusion into privacy is played by the US Supreme Court, which in its precedents determines the limits of lawfulness or unlawfulness for making searches, apprehensions and seizures of objects of criminal origin. In its operations, the Supreme Court seeks to find a reasonable balance between personal, social and governmental interests, which determines the development of doctrines with the account of changing social relationships. The paper also states that legislative regulation has evolved from unlimited searches and arrests allowed at early stages of the state development to precise recommendations and establishing limits meeting constitutional requirements set by the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution.