In an affidavit, what two things must the officer state regarding knowledge?

In an affidavit, what two things must the officer state regarding knowledge?

• A. Knows/how
• B. Knows/When
• C. Knows/Where
• D. Knows/Why

Answer: (A)

In affidavits for probable cause, the officer must tie each asserted fact to how he knows it. This means he should state what he knows and, importantly, how he obtained that knowledge. The “knows” part shows the fact is based on the officer’s own knowledge or reliable information he can testify about. The “how” part reveals the source or method—such as his direct observation, physical evidence, official records, or corroborated information from a reliable source. This combination lets the judge assess credibility and whether the facts are sufficiently supported to establish probable cause. So, the correct idea is that an officer must declare both what he knows and how he knows it, rather than just when, where, or why the information exists. For example, an affidavit might state, “I know there is contraband at this address based on my own observation and corroborating surveillance footage.”

In affidavits for probable cause, the officer must tie each asserted fact to how he knows it. This means he should state what he knows and, importantly, how he obtained that knowledge. The “knows” part shows the fact is based on the officer’s own knowledge or reliable information he can testify about. The “how” part reveals the source or method—such as his direct observation, physical evidence, official records, or corroborated information from a reliable source. This combination lets the judge assess credibility and whether the facts are sufficiently supported to establish probable cause.

So, the correct idea is that an officer must declare both what he knows and how he knows it, rather than just when, where, or why the information exists. For example, an affidavit might state, “I know there is contraband at this address based on my own observation and corroborating surveillance footage.”