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Mapp v. Ohio is significant because it established the exclusionary rule at the state level, extending Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures to state courts. Prior to this case, the exclusionary rule, which prohibits the use of evidence obtained through illegal searches, primarily applied to federal courts. The Supreme Court ruled that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment cannot be used in state prosecutions, thereby reinforcing the principle that individual rights are protected from government overreach. This landmark decision emphasized the importance of constitutional protections and ensured that state law enforcement agencies adhere to the same standards as federal agencies regarding the collection of evidence.