Maryland v. King
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.
- Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Decided
- Citation
- 569 U.S. 435 (2013)
What did the court decide?
The Court held that when officers arrest someone for a serious offense with probable cause and bring the person to the station, taking a DNA cheek swab is a legitimate booking procedure that is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, like fingerprinting and photographing.
Why does it matter?
It allows DNA collection at arrest for serious offenses where state law authorizes it.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.
Related rulings
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.