Can a police officer approach a person in a public place and ask if they are willing to answer questions?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Collins, C085063 (Cal. App. 2020):
"An officer may approach a person in a public place and ask if the person is willing to answer questions. If the person voluntarily answers, those responses, and the officer's observations, are admissible in a criminal prosecution. [Citations.] Such consensual encounters present no constitutional concerns and do not require justification." (People v. Brown (2015) 61 Cal.4th 968, 974.)
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