What must exist for an officer to legally conduct a search without a warrant?

For an officer to legally conduct a search without a warrant, exigent circumstances or consent from the individual involved must be present. Exigent circumstances refer to situations where law enforcement believes that immediate action is necessary to prevent physical harm, the destruction of evidence, or the escape of a suspect. This doctrine allows officers to bypass the usual requirement to obtain a search warrant, which can be time-consuming.

Consent, on the other hand, allows an officer to search a person or property when the individual voluntarily agrees to the search. It is essential that this consent is given freely and without coercion.

In essence, these two conditions—exigent circumstances and consent—establish the legal framework under which a warrantless search can occur while still complying with constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.