Okonenko R.I. Examination of a portable electronic device in the course of a search of an arrestee within the US criminal procedural law: attempt to fi nd a balance of interest of citizens and the state

Abstract: This article describes the main problems, which the US courts face while examining the portable digital devices of arrestees, and analyzes the differences between the modern information technologies and conventional methods of storing information (planner, briefcase, etc.). This leads to the conclusion that the American legislation is unable to implement the traditional legal standards towards the electronic carriers of personal data. A special attention is given to the analysis of the decision of the United States Supreme Court from June 25th 2014, which finds mobile phones to be a significant personal object, and their search can only be conducted based on a separate court warrant. The author also describes the key points of view of American legislators on the question of to what extent can an examination of a portable digital device of a suspect be conducted by a member of law enforcement in order to address both, the public interest of fighting crime and private interest of a citizen by protecting the important personal information. The main conclusion of the research consist in the incomparability of the modern communication devices to the traditional means of writing down information, which used to be the basis of the work of American courts of all levels.

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