Under what condition does the good faith exception apply?

The good faith exception applies when an officer acts on a mistaken belief that is reasonable. This principle recognizes that law enforcement may inadvertently rely on faulty information or outdated law and still act in a manner that is genuine and reasonable given the circumstances. The good faith exception allows evidence obtained in such situations to be admissible in court, even if it might have otherwise been excluded due to a lack of probable cause or improper procedure, as long as the officer's belief was not reckless or wholly unreasonable.

For instance, if an officer believes they have probable cause based on information received from a reliable source, but later it turns out that the information was incorrect, the evidence obtained during that search may still be permissible under the good faith exception. This exception is critical in maintaining the balance between protecting citizens' rights and allowing law enforcement to perform their duties effectively.