Search Warrant Policy

To provide detailed instructions for employees who are served on campus with search warrants.

 Review Process / Approval

Employees who are served with a search warrant.

Search warrant - Document issued by a court that authorizes a police officer or somebody else named in the document to go into a building, place or open a container (e.g. vault, safety deposit box), to search and seize anything that might serve as evidence of a crime or could be used to commit a crime (e.g. computers, file cabinets, electronic records, paper documents, etc.).

Employees receiving the warrant need to:

• Check for proper identification 
• Request a copy of the warrant 
• Write down the name and agency of the lead agent  
• Call University Police and should notify their direct supervisor immediately  
• If requested, provide assistance for locating items in question

• Once the employee has been shown proper identification and obtained a copy of the warrant, he/she should immediately call University Police at 564-2022, their direct supervisor, and the Assistant to the Vice President for Administration in the Management Services office at 564-2539.  
• The warrant must identify the place to be searched and may have set time limits.  (i.e. Warrants often specify that they are for daytime searches only.)  All warrants have an expiration date.  Employees should read the warrant and make sure the warrant gives the agents the authority to search the premises of SUNY Plattsburgh (ensuring premises named aren't e.g. Clinton Community College).  
• When the employee contacts Management Services, the employee should relate the following information (or fax a copy of the warrant): 
  • The facts of the warrant 
  • The law enforcement and regulatory agencies involved  
  • The areas to be searched under the provisions of the warrant  
  • The types of evidence to be seized under the warrant  
• It is a crime to obstruct an agent in the lawful exercise of his/her duties, including execution of a warrant.  However, asking questions and requesting a copy of the warrant are not obstruction.  Remain calm, polite and observant.  (Observe the course of the search, but do not interfere with it.)  
• Agents may use photocopy machines instead of seizing records with clearance from Management Services.  
• All Federal and State agents are required to leave an inventory of items taken during the search.  This inventory must be forwarded to Management Services immediately.  
• Be conscientious of the fact that any conversations with an agent will eventually be documented and probably used at a later date.  Other than assisting agents in locating items specified in the warrant, SUNY Plattsburgh employees do not have to submit to questioning. 

None

None

There are no specific trainings identified with this policy.