Every Phone in the Haystack: Navigating Chatrie, Tower Dumps, & the Constitutional and Ethical Limits of Digital Search Warrants

Reverse-location searches turn the traditional warrant process on its head by using a place and time to identify an unknown suspect. Mass location tools like geofence warrants and cell tower dumps are vital for identifying unknown perpetrators in violent crimes and complex investigations. However, evolving Fourth Amendment jurisprudence presents growing suppression risks. In Chatrie v. United States, the Supreme Court recognized that obtaining cell-phone location data constitutes a Fourth Amendment search, leaving critical questions of probable cause and particularity for lower courts. Meanwhile, recent federal rulings, including significant decisions out of Mississippi, have invalidated tower-dump warrants, holding that post-seizure filtering cannot rescue an overbroad initial collection of responsive records. This presentation equips prosecutors with the legal frameworks and investigative strategies needed to navigate reverse-location warrants, build suppression-resistant search affidavits, satisfy narrowing requirements, and successfully use digital evidence in court.

Sponsored by: Magnet Forensics

Eligibility 

NDAA’s mission to serve and support prosecutors and their staff. In consideration of this commitment, NDAA requires that all those in attendance of our programs currently work in or work closely with prosecution: NDAA invites prosecutors, lawyers and paralegals in local, state, tribal, federal and military government attorneys’ offices. If you are not sure about your eligibility, please contact training@ndaajustice.org.

Questions? 

Please contact training@ndaajustice.org.