&gt;If prosecutors have a valid reason to access the information they can go to a judge, get a lawful court order and serve it against the person who owns the safe.<p>Yep.  The big difference is in the case of a safe they have other options if you refuse - there&#x27;s not much point in pissing off the judge only to have them call a locksmith and drill your safe.<p>Depending on exactly how the drive is encrypted, the state may not have a plan B if he refuses to comply.