What type of evidence is usually required to establish probable cause?

To establish probable cause, it is essential to have a basis that supports a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed, or that specific items connected to a crime can be found in a particular location. Personal observations that justify the belief of a crime are crucial because they provide firsthand accounts and tangible indications of illegal activity. Law enforcement officers rely on their training, experience, and direct interactions to formulate a reasonable belief that leads to further investigative actions, such as arrests or obtaining search warrants.

This type of evidence is particularly robust because it is grounded in the officer's own observations, which can be scrutinized and evaluated in more objective terms, compared to other sources of evidence. Personal observations can include behaviors or circumstances that are consistent with criminal activity, thus forming the basis for a reasonable conclusion about the likelihood of a crime occurring.

In contrast, direct evidence of a crime may not always be available at the outset of an investigation, and while data collected through surveillance can be valuable, it is not exclusively required to establish probable cause. Lastly, anonymous tips without corroboration are often insufficient to establish probable cause on their own, as they lack the necessary reliability that personal observations provide.