Community Caretaking Searches

Many of us do not know the names of our next door neighbors. Because of this, tasks that neighbors, friends, or relatives may have performed in the past now fall to the police."(People v. Ray, 21 Cal.4th (1999))It's 0200 hours on a hot August night. You are at an apartment fourplex on a loud noise complaint. As you walk up the stairs in an attempt to determine the location of the noise, you observe an open door. It's completely quiet.As you illuminate the apartment's interior with your flashligh