The term “unreasonable” refers to any action or result that exceeds a reasonable expectation, or refers to anything beyond what would be considered “common sense.” In criminal cases, the prosecutor should explain the evidence so clearly that the average person would agree with it; if the logic of the prosecution or the certainty based on the given evidence could not be accepted by the common public, it would be unreasonable. In tort cases, a reasonable person is a standard to determine liability for negligence.
An unreasonable search and seizure is a search and/or seizure that goes beyond the constitutionally protected reasonable expectation of privacy.
[Last updated in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]