What is a requirement when executing a criminal warrant?

The requirement to "knock and announce" is rooted in the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The principle of knocking and announcing serves several important purposes: it provides an opportunity for occupants to comply with law enforcement, it protects the privacy of individuals in their homes, and it reduces the potential for violence during the execution of a warrant. This requirement exemplifies the balance the law seeks to maintain between the enforcement of justice and respecting citizens’ rights.

The other options do not align with standard requirements for executing a criminal warrant. For example, while warrants can be executed at night under certain circumstances, it is not a strict requirement. Detaining all witnesses is not necessary, as law enforcement typically focuses on the subjects specified in the warrant itself. Lastly, completing a report within 24 hours is not universally mandated for every warrant execution, though documentation is essential for various procedural and accountability reasons. Thus, the obligation to "knock and announce" effectively captures a crucial standard practice in executing a criminal warrant.