Legal Rights & Precedents
Understanding Your Rights as a Targeted Individual
Supreme Court Cases & Legal Precedents
Key Legal Decisions
Katz v. United States (1967)
Established the "reasonable expectation of privacy" doctrine, which is relevant to electronic surveillance and harassment cases. This case affirmed that the Fourth Amendment protects people, not places, and established that electronic surveillance requires a warrant.
United States v. Jones (2012)
Ruled that the government's attachment of a GPS device to a vehicle constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment. This case is particularly relevant to tracking and surveillance issues faced by TIs.
Riley v. California (2014)
Established that police need a warrant to search digital information on a cell phone. This protects TIs from unauthorized access to their digital devices and information.
Carpenter v. United States (2018)
Ruled that the government needs a warrant to access cell phone location records. This case strengthens privacy protections for TIs regarding their location data.
Your Constitutional Rights
Protected Rights
First Amendment Rights
- Freedom of speech and expression
- Right to assemble and associate
- Right to petition the government
- Protection from retaliation for exercising these rights
Fourth Amendment Rights
- Protection from unreasonable searches and seizures
- Right to privacy in your home and electronic devices
- Protection from warrantless surveillance
- Right to be secure in your person and property
Fifth Amendment Rights
- Right to due process of law
- Protection from self-incrimination
- Right to remain silent
- Protection from double jeopardy
Legal Documentation Guidelines
Proper Documentation Methods
When documenting incidents for legal purposes:
- Use a bound notebook with numbered pages (legal standard)
- Include date, time, and location for each entry
- Document witnesses and their contact information
- Take photographs or videos when possible
- Keep all documentation in chronological order
- Maintain multiple copies in secure locations
- Use digital timestamps for electronic evidence
Legal Resources
Helpful Organizations & Resources
- ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)
- National Lawyers Guild
- Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
- Digital Rights Organizations