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Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court

Consent Need Not Be Written

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Photo of a police interrogation where the suspect is smoking a cigarette
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (see reuse policy).

There is no specific set of words or warnings needed to obtain a person's consent, and the Constitution does not require that the person be told of the right to refuse to consent.

As long as the person is not coerced and the scope of the search has been explained, consent will be deemed lawful. 1617

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