What Happens During a Car Inventory Search?

 

So the Las Vegas police impounded your car for one legal reason or another. Reasons may vary from something as simple as illegal parking to something severe like reckless driving. Your vehicle will be towed to the nearest impound lot and will remain there until the case is resolved.

The thing is, your vehicle doesn’t just stay put in the impound lot. As standard procedure, police officers will conduct a vehicle search in your car to see what items are left inside. This procedure is known as a car inventory search, and is conducted for every vehicle that gets impounded.

What is a Car Inventory Search?

A car inventory search is a process where law enforcers search through your car to identify all items left within it at the time of impounding. The police will thoroughly sift through your vehicle, cataloging every item they see. This will include items stored in the glove compartment, seat pockets, trunk, and any other auxiliary storage space.

Law enforcement conducts inventory searches for at least two reasons:

• The police are entrusted with protecting the vehicle owner’s property while it is in their custody

• The police can use the comprehensive inventory against possible claims of lost or stolen property when the owner recovers their car

• The police is looking for possible hidden dangers within the vehicle, such as hidden explosives or unregistered firearms

Is Consent Needed for It?

Police officers need neither the owner’s consent nor a search warrant granted by the presiding judge to conduct an inventory search. They also do not need probable cause to search the vehicle. As an inventory search is part of standard police procedure, it does not need any prerequisite documents.

Can the Driver Do Anything About It?

As stated in the previous section, the driver does not have a say about the police conducting an inventory search. The driver can only hope that the inventory search can protect whatever items they have left behind in the car before it was impounded.

However, the driver can complain if the items cataloged somehow end up being used as evidenced against them in a related charge. The driver’s defense attorney can allege that the inventory search was conducted without following legal procedures. They can also claim that the inventory search was actually intended to search for incriminating evidence in the first place.

Car inventory searches are standard protocol for impounded vehicles, but some officials may take it a step too far without the owner’s consent. Ask your lawyer about how to protect you from the adverse effects of a car inventory search.

Who Writes Your Presentence Investigation Report in Las Vegas?

 

The pre-sentencing process is an important interlude between the conviction and the actual application of penalties for a defendant. It is during this period that the presentence investigation report is conducted. The presentence investigation determines what level of penalties are appropriate for a defendant’s crime, based on important information gathered from the defendant and/or their associates.

Such an important document can only be handled by important individuals within the justice system. As a matter of course, the presentence process is handled by officials from Nevada Parole and Probation, a division of the state’s Department of Public Safety. Let’s look at the people who are involved in writing a presentence investigation report in Las Vegas.

Probation Officers

Probation officers are expected to lead in compiling a PSI report as they will interact with the convicted individual on a regular basis. They are thoroughly trained to gather the information efficiently and comprehensively so that nothing is overlooked. Usually, the officer handling the report also becomes a defendant’s assigned probation officer after the sentence is carried out.

Mental Health Specialists

Maintaining a defendant’s mental well-being is still important even when they are serving time. As such, mental health professionals are assigned to interview the defendant and determine if they are mentally prepared (or mentally sane) enough for the possible penalties that befit the crime they were charged with. They can also add suggestions in the report about how to handle a defendant’s mental and emotional state throughout the post-sentencing. Psychiatrists may furnish a medical regimen to ensure that the defendant remains mentally fit, while psychologists can suggest psychotherapy sessions with the defendant.

Medical Professionals

 Medical professionals investigate a defendant’s medical status and background to determine whether or not they are physically prepared to handle the penalties that they’ll be sentenced with. They may conduct health tests that cover different aspects of the body, like weight, blood pressure, medical history and diet, among others. They can also determine if the defendant will need unique add-ons like changed eating habits, unique exercise routines, or a possible transfer to a more accommodating detention facility if the current one disagrees with their physical well-being.

Family and Marriage Therapists

These individuals can conduct a more intensive investigation into the defendant’s personal relationships. They may look into family history, possible divorces and separations, and child support dues that the defendant may have. They may also interview the victims and determine the emotional effect that the crime has had on their family.

These are just four types of professionals that are directly involved with writing a presentence report. Others may be called in depending on the circumstances of your charge and conviction. Consult your defense attorney for more information.