ASIS Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Study Guide

The case of Rawlings v. Kentucky primarily addresses the issue of standing in relation to the exclusionary rule. In this case, the Supreme Court examined whether a defendant could challenge the legality of a search and seizure when the evidence found was in possession of a third party at the time of the search. The ruling clarified that an individual must have a legitimate expectation of privacy in order to claim that the evidence obtained from a search should be excluded due to a violation of Fourth Amendment rights.

This case illustrates the concept of standing, where only those with a direct legal interest or connection to the matter at hand can assert constitutional protections in court. The Supreme Court ultimately held that Rawlings did not have standing to contest the search because he did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in the items that were seized from a companion's purse.

Understanding this case provides critical insight into the application of the exclusionary rule, highlighting the importance of establishing standing to challenge evidence obtained through potentially unlawful searches.