Drug charges can quickly upend your life. And if the evidence against you is significant, then you might be tempted to try to mitigate the damage as much as possible by quickly agreeing to a plea deal. But this might not be in your best interests. Therefore, you should refrain from agreeing to conviction without first fully analyzing your defense options, which could include the suppression of key evidence.
What is evidence suppression?
When evidence is suppressed, the court decides that it can’t be used against you at trial. There are several reasons why a court might suppress the prosecution’s evidence, including each of the following:
- Illegally obtained evidence: A lot of drug cases stem from vehicle and person searches that occur after a traffic stop. If the traffic stop was illegally conducted in the first place, though, then that gathered evidence is also tainted with illegality. Here, you’ll likely be successful in seeking to suppress that evidence.
- Failure to read Miranda rights: When you’re subjected to custodial interrogation, the police are required to inform you of your rights. If they fail to do so, then any incriminating statements that you make might be suppressed.
- Chain of custody errors: For evidence to be admissible, the prosecution has to show that it is what they claim it to be. If the evidence was mishandled or stored improperly, though, then it might be compromised. If the chain of custody error is egregious enough, then you might be able to suppress that evidence.
Find your best criminal defense option
The best way to build your criminal defense is going to depend on the facts at hand. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself on the process and the arguments that are applicable to your case. By putting in the time necessary to build an aggressive criminal defense, you might be able to beat the prosecution and protect your future.
