1、CRS Legal Sidebar Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i The USA PATRIOT Act at 20: Sneak and Peek Searches October 27, 2021 President George W. Bush signed the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct
2、Terrorism Act of 2001 (“USA PATRIOT Act” or Act) on October 26, 2001. Section 213 of the Act, enacted as part of the legislative response to the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks, authorizes sneak and peek search warrants. “Sneak and peek” refers to the unannounced execution of a warrant on premises where o
3、fficers observe, examine, measure, conduct tests, and otherwise surreptitiously search, but do not seize tangible property, and where officers thereafter delay notice of the search for 30 days. Notice permits an individual to challenge the legality of the search. It could also lead to flight, destru
4、ction of evidence, or placing a witness in peril. In FY2020, under the authority of Section 213, courts issued close to 20,000 such 30-day, delayed-notice search warrants, and approved extended delayed notice beyond 30 days in more than 10,000 cases. Drug cases accounted for more than 70% of the tot
