Under exigent circumstances, which action is allowed without a warrant?

• A. They require a warrant in all cases.
• B. They do not apply to emergencies.
• C. They apply only to property crimes.
• D. They allow warrantless action to prevent harm, escape, or destruction of evidence.

Answer: (D)

Exigent circumstances involve urgent situations where police must act quickly to prevent harm, evade capture, or destruction of evidence. In those moments, a warrant isn’t required because waiting could put people at risk, allow a suspect to escape, or let evidence be spoiled. This is why the option describing warrantless action to prevent harm, escape, or destruction of evidence is correct. The other statements don’t fit because exigent circumstances are about emergencies that justify bypassing the warrant, and they’re not limited to property crimes.