A key element of the fourth amendment is thag searches and seizures must be conducted

based on reasonable belief that a crime has been comitted.

The 4th amendment is a protection in the Bill of Rights that was implemented to protect citizens from being harassed by law enforcement officials. In many cases, a warrant signed by a judge is needed in order to search a business or place of residence. However, there are circumstances where law enforcement can search without a warrant. In order to search, there must be some type of evidence that shows that a crime has been taking place.