What to do if…
police say they have a warrant and are asking you to open the door

What to do now

1. Move away from the door’s swing path. Keep children, other people, and pets back from the entry if you can do so safely. Keep your phone with you.
2. Speak through the closed door. Say: “I am trying to verify who you are and read the warrant. Please slide a copy under the door or hold it up to the window.”
3. Ask what agency they are from, their names, their badge or identification numbers, and what type of warrant they say they have. Write the details down if you can do so without delaying or interfering.
4. Read what you can safely see. For a search warrant, check the address and the listed places, people, or items. For an arrest warrant, check the named or described person. Do not try to block entry while you read.
5. If you think the people at the door may not be officers, use an independent contact route. If there is immediate danger, call 911 and describe what is happening. If there is no immediate danger and time allows, call the agency’s publicly listed number yourself, explain that people at your door claim to be officers with a warrant, and follow the instructions you receive.
6. If officers enter, keep your hands visible and avoid sudden movements. Say once: “I do not consent to any search beyond what the warrant authorizes.” Do not physically resist or interfere.
7. Do not answer investigative questions. Say: “I am going to remain silent. I want to speak with a lawyer before answering questions.”
8. If you can do so safely and without interfering, observe where officers go and what they take. Ask for a copy of the warrant and any receipt or inventory for seized items.
9. As soon as it is safe, write down the time, the agency, names or badge numbers, what was searched, what was taken, and who else was present. Contact a lawyer when you can.