In a lawful arrest, a search incident to arrest may cover which area?

• A. The arrestee's pockets only
• B. The entire building
• C. The arrestee's person and the area within immediate control
• D. Any place in the home

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that a search incident to a lawful arrest is limited to the arrestee and the area within the arrestee’s immediate control. This rule, from Chimel v. California, lets officers search the person and the surrounding space from which the arrestee could gain a weapon or destroy evidence at the moment of arrest. It protects officer safety and preserves evidence without turning into a general warrant for the whole building.

So the search can include the arrestee’s person and the space immediately around them that’s within grabbing distance or could be used to access evidence. It does not authorize rummaging through the entire building or any place in the home far removed from the arrestee. An arrest in a room, for instance, would generally allow a search of the arrestee and the room or adjacent area within reach, but not every part of the home.