Office of the Chief Counsel
Welcome to Legal Learning where the attorney instructors at FLETC provide additional legal training for current students and experienced law enforcement officers. If you are a student enrolled at FLETC, these materials can serve as additional resources to supplement your legal training. If you are an experienced officer, you can use these materials for continuing legal education throughout your career. We hope these materials will be a resource to you throughout your law enforcement career.
Training Material
Available resources providing corresponding links, audio, and PDF files for training.
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Overview:
This class examines the sources and scope of the authority and jurisdiction of federal land management law enforcement. The class addresses both territorial and subject matter jurisdiction. The class also examines jurisdictional issues related to selected offenses that involve federal land management agencies.
Available Resources:
Territorial Jurisdiction on Federal Property (MP3)
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class introduces the federal law enforcement officer to the structure of the United States government and select rights and protections afforded by the Constitution to individuals in the United States.
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class introduces law enforcement officers to the fundamentals of the Federal Rules of Evidence, and helps them understand how to properly collect, preserve, and present evidence so it will be admissible in court.
Available Resources:
Related Content
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class introduces the law enforcement officer to the issues that arise during testimony in a criminal trial. Officers will learn how to prepare for testifying, what they can and cannot testify to at trial, and key issues about foundations, impeachment and credibility.
Available Resources:
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class gives the student a basic overview of federal laws that relate to the intercept of wire, oral and electronic communications; that track the movements of vehicles and other objects; and that trace telephone calls and electronic communications. This class will also address using video-only surveillance and the federal requirements governing access to stored electronic communications held by an internet service provider (ISP). The class will also address basic issues with searching and seizing computers and obtaining search warrants for digital evidence.
Available Resources:
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class discusses how the federal courts operate, focusing on the law enforcement officer’s role in obtaining the necessary documents, and following the necessary procedures, to have a defendant brought before a court to answer a criminal charge.
Available Resources:
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class examines select federal crimes taught at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, including drugs, firearms, assault, theft, bribery, conspiracy and other criminal offenses.
Available Resources:
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class will cover the Fifth Amendment’s privilege against self-incrimination, when Miranda warnings are required, when the Sixth Amendment right to counsel attaches, when a suspect waives his protections under the Fifth and Sixth Amendment, and how to conduct lawful identification procedures.
Available Resources:
Miranda v. Arizona (FLETC Talk) - Branch Chief Patrick Walsh LGD
The Newest Constitutional Right – The Right To Miranda Warnings (PDF)
Juvenile Miranda Rights (PDF)
Update On The Federal Juvenile Delinquency Act (PDF)
Interviewing Represented Military Suspects (PDF)
Civil Liability for Interrogation Violations (PDF)
Related Content
Miranda & the 5th Amendment (MP3)
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
No courses listed at this time.
Overview:
This class will discuss the legal issues that arise when the government buys goods and services and spends money.
Available Resources:
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
- Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
- Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
- Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Visit FLETC Catalog.
Overview:
This class explains when the Fourth Amendment applies, and what constitutes a reasonable search or seizure. Officers learn what is needed to obtain a search or arrest warrant, how to properly execute a warrant, and when an exception to the warrant requirement applies.
Available Resources:
Searching Vehicles without Warrants Brochure
Terry v. Ohio (FLETC Talk) - Associate Chief Counsel John Besselman
Terry Frisks - Senior Instructor Jenna Solari, LGD, Sgt. Glenn Brogan; USCP, Instructor Jonathan Taber, PTD
Katz v. United States (FLETC Talk) - Branch Chief Patrick Walsh, LGD
Arizona v. Gant (FLETC Talk) - Senior Instructor George Buck, DMD
Schneckloth v. Bustamonte (FLETC Talk) - Branch Chief Paul Sullivan, LGD
Carroll v. United States (FLETC Talk) - Senior Instructor Teresa Hoyt, LGD
Airplane Overflights (FLETC Talk) - Senior Instructor Robert Cauthen, LGD
Michigan v. Sitz (FLETC Talk) - Senior Instructor Ken Anderson, LGD
New York v. Berger (FLETC Talk) - Deputy Assistant Director Ron Dionne, TMO
Government Employee Rights (FLETC Talk) - Deputy Assistant Director Bryan Lemon, MRSD
O'Connor v. Ortega (Government Workplace Searches) (FLETC Talk) - Deputy Chief Counsel Trish Besselman
Michigan v. Long (FLETC Talk) - Deputy Chief Counsel Trish Besselman
Minnesota v. Dickerson (FLETC Talk) - Associate Chief Counsel John Besselman
New York v. Belton (FLETC Talk) - Branch Chief Michael Poillucci, DMD
Florida v. Wells (FLETC Talk) - Associate Director for Training Jay Gregorius
South Dakota v. Opperman (FLETC Talk) - Deputy Director William Fallon
Kyllo v. United States (FLETC Talk) - Branch Chief Patrick Walsh (LGD)
Racial Profiling (PDF) - June 2003
Audio Files:
Definition of a Government Agent Under the 4th Amendment (MP3)
Execution of a Search Warrant (I) (MP3)
Execution of a Search Warrant (II) (MP3)
Exclusionary Rule Part I (MP3)
Exclusionary Rule Part 2 (MP3)
Vehicular Search Incident to Arrest after Gant (MP3)
Who Can Consent to Search (MP3)
Covert Entry Search Warrants (MP3)
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class will explain how officers can be sued, and under what legal theories. This class will also discuss the protections provided to law enforcement.
Available Resources:
AG Memo on the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (PDF) - January 2005
The Federal Good Samaritan Act (and related statutes) (PDF)
Related Content
Course study material covered, on this page, is relevant in the following course(s):
Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP)
Land Management Police Training (LMPT)
Uniformed Police Training Program (UPTP)
Overview:
This class will discuss the Constitutional standards that govern an officer's use of force.
Available Resources:
Audio Files:
This series covers a variety of "Hot Issues" pertaining to the law enforcement community.
Audio Files:
Civil Actions
- Civil Liability For False Affidavits (PDF)
- An Overview Of “Qui Tam” Actions (PDF)
- Mistaken Use of a Firearm Instead of Electronic Control Weapon (PDF)
- Civil Liability for Interrogation Violations (PDF)
Department of Justice Guidance
- Guidance Regarding The Use Of Race (Racial Profiling) (PDF)
- Legal Ethics For Investigative Agents (PDF)
Miscellaneous
- The U.S. Patriot Act Of 2001 – Changes To Electronic Surveillance Laws (PDF)
- Prosecuting The Unconvicted Arriving Alien Under INA § 212(A)(2)(A) (PDF)
- Changes To The Manual For Courts-Martial (PDF)
- D.C. v. Heller – the 2nd Amendment Case (PDF)
- Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (PDF)
- Tracking Individuals via Their Cellular Phones (PDF)
- Tracking the Bad Guys: An Article on GPS Tracking (PDF) - July 2006