Legal Question in Criminal Law in Michigan

need answer ASAP. scared

i live in a small town. my friend lost his camera that has pictures of him and his friends drinking underage and smoking marijuana. someone found this camera and turned it in to the local police station. the cops looked throguht the pictures and have been going to stores and gas staions and asking employees if they know or have seen the kids in the photos before. is this legal? don't they need a warrant to look through private property? are my friends in trouble? can they actually prove what are in the photos?

please let me know ASAP

thank you.


Asked on 2/23/08, 10:28 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Stuart Collis Collis, Griffor & Hendra, PC

Re: need answer ASAP. scared

If it was turned into the police, it is not "private property." Search and seizure only protect warrantless searches. Anyone would have had the right to develop those photos/look at them and thus, they have the same right.

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Answered on 2/23/08, 10:35 pm
William Morrison Action Defense Center

Re: need answer ASAP. scared

is this legal? YES!

don't they need a warrant to look through private property? NO!

are my friends in trouble? Probably!

can they actually prove what are in the photos? YES!

A picture is worth a thousand words. Once they talk to one of your friends, he will probably give up the other's identities.

please let me know ASAP thank you.

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Answered on 2/24/08, 12:15 pm


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