Under what conditions can evidence be seized under the 'plain view' doctrine?

The 'plain view' doctrine allows law enforcement officers to seize evidence without a warrant if certain conditions are met. One key requirement is that the officers must be lawfully present at the location where they observe the evidence. This means they must have a legitimate vantage point, which typically involves having a warrant or being in a situation where they can legally be, such as during the execution of a warrant.

When officers have a warrant for a certain area and observe evidence of a crime in plain view, they can seize that evidence without needing an additional warrant, as their observation is lawful and the evidence is readily apparent. This principle ensures that the rights of individuals are maintained while allowing officers to act quickly to preserve evidence that is within their lawful view.

Understanding this context clarifies why the other options do not fit the criteria of the 'plain view' doctrine: simply being in a private residence or having evidence in a public space does not suffice if the police do not have a legitimate reason to be there. Furthermore, the presence of a crime in progress is not a condition that directly relates to the 'plain view' doctrine, as it pertains more to exigent circumstances rather than the legality of observing and seizing evidence.