What are the legal standards for when the police can enter your house without a warrant?

[Jessica5]

I was thinking about the possibility that one of my neighbors would hear a gunshot I'd use against myself and call the police. Which of course could result in me being "saved" and becoming a vegetable.

I was beginning to wonder when the police would be allowed to enter my house. If a neighbor says they think they heard a gunshot that came from my house, the police knock at my door, and nobody answers, are the police then allowed to storm into my house? Or is more required?

 

[On the edge]

In that case I think probable cause would be enough for them to legally enter the property. But don't quote me on that

 

[whyidon'tknow]

Not a cop but I imagine the police can't just leave the scene of a crime where a gunshot is heard without finding out what happened.

 

[inconsequential]

It's called a welfare check, and they'll bust the door down.

 

[secondtimesthecharm]

As others have said, anywhere in the United States the police/emergency responders can and will enter your home if they have any reason to believe you've harmed yourself. They'll knock and try to get a response first but unless you come to the door and tell them you're fine, they'll break it open and enter.

 

[Jessica5]

Not a cop but I imagine the police can't just leave the scene of a crime where a gunshot is heard without finding out what happened.

There really isn't a lot of way to know if the neighbors heard a gunshot or just heard a similar noise they mistook as a gunshot. Plus it's not always easy to tell what house the noise came from.

There's got to be at least a probable cause standard.

Anyway, I'd recommend hiding your car when you shoot yourself so the police might think that nobody's at your house. Since I don't have a garage, I might park my car across the street if/when I commit suicide. Sorry, neighbor across street.

 

[secondtimesthecharm]

There really isn't a lot of way to know if the neighbors heard a gunshot or just heard a similar noise they mistook as a gunshot. Plus it's not always easy to tell what house the noise came from.

There's got to be at least a probable cause standard.

The standard for probable cause varies by jurisdiction. Some states don't criminalize suicide, while others do. Regardless, the sound of what may be a gunshot, coupled with a lack of response should the cops knock at your door, will give them enough reason to bust your door down and enter. Now, you may have grounds for suit if they do so (again depending on circumstances and the laws in your jurisdiction) but that's all after the fact.

 

[Jessica5]

The standard for probable cause varies by jurisdiction. Some states don't criminalize suicide, while others do. Regardless, the sound of what may be a gunshot, coupled with a lack of response should the cops knock at your door, will give them enough reason to bust your door down and enter. Now, you may have grounds for suit if they do so (again depending on circumstances and the laws in your jurisdiction) but that's all after the fact.

What if they ended up knocking the door of the wrong house down though? The neighbor thought the gunshot was next door, when it was actually 2 doors down? Or else the neighbor mistook a power explosion for a gunshot? And nobody answered your door because nobody was home?

The police have to take this into account before they bust down your door.

That's why I'd recommend hiding any cars at your house. Create the impression that nobody's at your house, and that's why nobody's answering your door.

I guess the police might think that there could be a burglar in your house, but a burglar will usually have a car.

 

[KnightOfEnceladus]

The cops will, like a Mooninite, do whatever they want to whomever they want at all times, laws be damned.

 

[secondtimesthecharm]

What if they ended up knocking the door of the wrong house down though? The neighbor thought the gunshot was next door, when it was actually 2 doors down? Or else the neighbor mistook a power explosion for a gunshot? And nobody answered your door because nobody was home?

The police have to take this into account before they bust down your door.

That's why I'd recommend hiding any cars at your house. Create the impression that nobody's at your house, and that's why nobody's answering your door.

I guess the police might think that there could be a burglar in your house, but a burglar will usually have a car.

For context, I've completed one year of law school in the US. Decidedly not fully qualified, but I do have some familiarity with common legal standards for police action.
Honestly, the cops don't typically take all these things into account. If there's any indication that there's an emergency happening, they're going to do whatever it takes to stop it. Again, this varies by jurisdiction, but typically if the cops have reason to think they need to get into a house to stop a crime and ensure someone's safety, they'll just do it.
I'm familiar with some cases where emergency responders have entered the wrong home. In the moment, what's done is done. Afterwards the homeowners/tenants may have a claim for compensation, but that doesn't really help if it's a suicide attempt that's already been thwarted.

 

[a.h]

I was thinking about the possibility that one of my neighbors would hear a gunshot I'd use against myself and call the police. Which of course could result in me being "saved" and becoming a vegetable.

I was beginning to wonder when the police would be allowed to enter my house. If a neighbor says they think they heard a gunshot that came from my house, the police knock at my door, and nobody answers, are the police then allowed to storm into my house? Or is more required?

Of course they will break the door and get in if gunshot is fired and I bet anyone who heard gunshot would call the police. They can't know whether someone killed someone and if there is a victim they could save. Better shoot guns in forest.

 

[Ritter]

It depends, what type of gun are you using? Do you have a basement you could do it in? or play a movie or something loudly in the background, theres a lot of things that could sound like a gunshot and unless your neighbors know for sure it was your house it'll be a bit of a guessing game.

But all things considered, if you do it right won't matter

 

[a.h]

That's true. But doing it in apartment would get the police there for sure even that's not the case here.

 

[hypo666]

when I made my attempt, the police broke the door down or the housing association did, not sure but I got a new door lock out of it. In fact I am unsure how they broke in because by that time I was at the cliffs at beachy head. Some time later when I finally returned to my home, I noticed the police had searched everywhere, they had gone up in my loft, they had left most of the cupboard doors open they even checked my outdoors dustbin as the lid had been pulled off it. They had found my anabolic steroids and shockingly they did not remove them, I guess they figured it was personal use, they also left my weapons, {gurkha kukri ,baseball bat and several sledge hammers}. {though much later I found out my address and name had been flagged when the police do a PNC check, it seems to say I have a mental illness and am known to carry weapons}. They also found my driving licence photo id card and used it for a missing person report in the local paper, so my ugly mug was there. I was pleased the newspaper said my build was 'muscular'.

 

[sleepy dog]

I was thinking about the possibility that one of my neighbors would hear a gunshot I'd use against myself and call the police. Which of course could result in me being "saved" and becoming a vegetable.

I was beginning to wonder when the police would be allowed to enter my house. If a neighbor says they think they heard a gunshot that came from my house, the police knock at my door, and nobody answers, are the police then allowed to storm into my house? Or is more required?

If you are in the USA, they will come in.