Alford V. Greene—How an Unreasonable Seizure Led to an Unreasonable Interview

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Nabeel Basit Final Draft—PPP&L Journal Alford v. Greene—How an Unreasonable Seizure Led To an Unreasonable Interview I. Introduction Alford v. Greene dealt with the unconstitutional seizure of a young girl. In Alford v. Greene and Greene v. Camreta (which was consolidated into Alford v. Greene), caseworker Greene and Deputy Sheriff Alford seized a young girl and interrogated her in a private office at her elementary school for two hours. This was done without a warrant, probable cause, or parental consent, because they suspected the mother's husband may have been sexually molesting the girl and her sister. Deputy Alford had a visible firearm during the interview. Later, caseworker Greene secured a court order removing both daughters from their mother's custody for a period of twenty days. During this time, the girls were in Department of Human Services’ custody and underwent sexual abuse assessments and examinations outside of their mother's presence. The Fourth Amendment guarantees that “the right of the people to be secure…against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause.” In the case of Alford v. Greene, the mother of nine-year-old S.G. filed a claim on her behalf, pursuant to the Fourth Amendment and 42 U.S.C §1983. Specifically, the girls’ mother, Sarah Greene, alleges that the caseworker, Bob Camreta, and deputy sheriff, James Alford, violated S.G.’s Fourth Amendment rights when they seized and interrogated her in a private office at her school for two hours without a warrant, probable cause, or parental consent. This note will address the Fourth Amendment issue of an unreasonable seizure without a warrant, parental consent, or probable cause. There can be an inference drawn that police departments that are unwilling to follow procedures in regard to searches and

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