If an officer establishes probable cause but finds an error in a search warrant, which rule applies?

When an officer establishes probable cause but discovers an error in a search warrant, the good faith exception applies. This legal doctrine allows for the admission of evidence obtained through a search warrant that is later found to be technically flawed, as long as the officer was acting under a reasonable belief that the warrant was valid.

The rationale behind the good faith exception is to prevent the exclusion of evidence that was obtained by a law enforcement officer who, despite the error, was acting on a belief that they were following proper legal procedures. This exception promotes the objective of law enforcement while also aiming to deter police misconduct.

In contrast, other concepts like the exclusionary rule usually lead to evidence being excluded due to constitutional violations, the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine deals with evidence that is derived from an illegal search or seizure, and the premise of all evidence being inadmissible is overly broad and does not accurately reflect the principles of reasonable law enforcement actions. Therefore, the good faith exception serves as a balance between upholding constitutional protections and allowing the judicial system to consider evidence that was obtained in good faith, even if there are issues with the warrant.