A peace officer received a reliable report from a citizen that an infant was being left in an apartment unattended. The officer could lawfully force entry without a warrant or consent to determine the welfare and safety of the child. True or False?

• A. Only With a Warrant
• B. True
• C. False
• D. Only If There Is Probable Cause

Answer: (B)

When a child’s welfare is at issue, police can act quickly under the emergency/exigent circumstances allowance to protect someone from imminent harm. A reliable citizen report that an infant is being left unattended creates a credible basis for concern, so the officer may enter without a warrant or consent to determine the child’s welfare and safety. This isn’t about a general warrantless entry for any reason; it’s about a specific, time-sensitive situation where waiting for a warrant could endanger the child. If danger is found, appropriate protective steps can follow. That’s why the statement is true. The idea that a warrant is always required, or that probable cause is the exact standard for this entry, doesn’t fit the common welfare-check exception.