When you’re charged with a criminal offense, the prosecution will pursue their case like it’s failproof. But this may not be the case. In fact, the police regularly make mistakes during criminal investigations that you may be able to exploit when developing and presenting your criminal defense. To successfully do so, though, you have to know what sort of errors law enforcement commits so that you can quickly identify them and gather evidence that shows how they impact the integrity of the investigation and the legality of the charges you’re facing.
Which police mistakes can you use to your advantage in a criminal defense?
The police can violate your rights and jeopardize the integrity of their investigation, as well as any subsequent criminal case, in a variety of ways. Here are the ones that can be the most powerful in your criminal defense:
- Errors and illegality in securing and executing a search warrant.
- Erroneously applying an exception to the warrant requirement.
- Improperly collecting, storing and testing evidence.
- Failing to advise you of your Miranda rights subsequent to arrest or prior to custodial interrogation.
- Conducting an illegal traffic stop that then results in your arrest.
- Relying on untrustworthy witness accounts.
- Engaging in police misconduct.
There might be other missteps the police make in your case that you can rely upon when building your criminal defense, so be sure to fully assess the circumstances of your case before moving forward.
Don’t leave your criminal defense to chance
If you want to maximize your ability to beat the prosecution, then you have to be proactive in building your criminal defense. This will require an understanding of the law and how it applies to your set of circumstances, which is something with which your attorney can assist you. So, if you’re ready to build your defense strategy, then now is the time to get to work.