There are numerous criminal defense strategies that can help to prevent a conviction. Some defendants have alibis that can show they were present elsewhere at the time of a crime. If the case goes to trial, information that raises questions about the prosecution’s claims can be enough to secure an acquittal.
Other times, an attorney may be able to show that there are issues with the state’s evidence, such as problematic gaps in the chain of custody information. Challenging the validity of state evidence can lead to the prosecutor dropping the charges in some cases.
It is also sometimes possible to suppress or exclude evidence from criminal proceedings because the state gathered the evidence through misconduct. Doing so can lead to the dismissal of pending charges or make it easier for a defense team to secure an acquittal.
Improper police conduct can lead to useless evidence
The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures of their property. Police officers must uphold the rights of everyone, even those they suspect of criminal activity.
When criminal defendants can show that police officers violated their rights or conducted an illegal search, that misconduct can provide grounds to suppress or exclude that evidence. An attorney who demonstrates to the courts that the collection of evidence violated the law or the rights of a defendant can ask the courts to prevent the prosecutor from presenting that ill-gotten evidence during the trial.
Looking at every possible solution for pending criminal charges can help people who want to avoid convictions. Evidence suppression is one of several tactics that can help weaken the state’s case.