What constitutes an exigent circumstance allowing a warrantless entry or search?

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Exigent circumstances are urgent, time-sensitive needs that justify bypassing the normal warrant requirement for entry or search. The idea is that when waiting to obtain a warrant would create a significant risk of harm or loss, officers may act immediately.

This includes situations like protecting someone from imminent danger, preventing the imminent destruction of evidence, or pursuing a suspect in hot pursuit where waiting for a warrant would allow the suspect to escape or commit further harm. If delaying to get a warrant would undermine public safety or result in the loss of crucial evidence, warrantless action is considered reasonable.

It's not about merely suspecting a crime or about being in custody. Those conditions alone don’t automatically justify bypassing a warrant. Each potentially exigent situation is evaluated on whether there was a genuine, time-sensitive need that made waiting unreasonable.