Silverman v. United States 365 U.S. 505 (1961)
SILVERMAN v. UNITED STATES 365 U.S. 505 (1961)
To investigate gambling, district of columbia police officers inserted a microphone into a wall. The device touched a heating duct, enabling the police to overhear conversations throughout the house.
In Goldman v. United States (1942) the Court had afforded no constitutional protection against a microphone placed against a wall. By 1961 the Court, concerned about new methods of electronic surveillance, ruled that because there was a physical penetration, albeit only a few inches, the overhearing was subject to the fourth amendment with no need to reconsider Goldman or earlier cases; that reconsideration occurred in katz v. united states (1967).
Herman Schwartz
(1986)
(see also: Electronic Eavesdropping.)
More From encyclopedia.com
About this article
Silverman v. United States 365 U.S. 505 (1961)
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Silverman v. United States 365 U.S. 505 (1961)