When you have been charged with a drug crime, the consequences can be severe. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation with an attorney who will guide you through this complex area of law and respond aggressively to secure a timely, cost-effective conclusion to your legal problem.
Learn More About Drug Charge Defense
The criminal defense attorneys at Bachner & Associates, P.C. have extensive experience handling drug charge cases for clients throughout the New York City metropolitan area. If you are facing charges of drug possession, manufacturing, distribution or any other drug-related charge, it is important to build an intelligent, proactive criminal defense.
Below, we have provided some general information about drug crimes defense that we hope you will find helpful. To discuss your case with a knowledgeable defense attorney, please contact us online or by telephone at 877-388-6461.
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The defense lawyers at Bachner & Associates, P.C. have handled numerous drug charge cases for clients throughout the New York City metropolitan area. As former prosecutors, we know how the opposition builds cases against our clients. This perspective allows us to anticipate and counter those tactics while building compelling cases for people like you.
Have you been arrested for a drug crime? The penalties you face are severe, but with experienced legal counsel, you may achieve a successful result. Contact Bachner & Associates, P.C. today online or by telephone at 877-388-6461 to discuss your case with an experienced defense lawyer.
Searches and Seizures in Drug Cases
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. Particularly in drug cases, the legality of how law enforcement officials obtained the evidence used to support the State's case is a central and often-challenged issue. If the government's conduct violated the Fourth Amendment, the evidence is deemed inadmissible. Without the necessary evidence to prove the criminal charges, the State may have to dismiss its case against a defendant. If you have been charged with a drug crime, contact Bachner & Associates, P.C. in New York, New York, today to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense attorney who can advise you whether the evidence leading the charge may have resulted from an illegal search or seizure.
The Fourth Amendment provides:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
In addition, similar provisions in each state's constitution may afford even greater protections.
Warrants and the protection of privacy
Fourth Amendment protections apply to situations where persons have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as their home or personal communications, for instance. However, whether the expectation is "reasonable" is the key to whether it is protected by the Constitution. Reasonableness is context-specific. The court looks at an individual's intention to keep something private and whether the expectation is one that society is willing to recognize as reasonable. Just as standards of privacy are constantly changing in society, Fourth Amendment law is also constantly evolving.
The government can intrude on such a zone of privacy only if the search or seizure is reasonable. Generally, a "reasonable" search or seizure is one supported by a warrant. The warrant itself has to be valid. A warrant is valid if issued by a neutral judicial official, supported by probable cause and specifically identifies the person or thing to be searched or seized. To establish "probable cause," the law enforcement officer has to present facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a crime is being, or has been, committed.
Exceptions to the warrant requirement
The Supreme Court has recognized a number of exceptions to the warrant requirement. A warrantless search or seizure is still "reasonable" if there is probable cause and certain circumstances exist that make getting a warrant impractical or impossible. These exceptions include:
- Search incident to arrest: searching a person after a lawful arrest to locate weapons and/or prevent the destruction of evidence
- Consent: when an individual voluntarily waives his or her Fourth Amendment rights
- Plain view: searching or seizing objects in plain view, if an officer has a legal right to be in that position where he or she is viewing the objects
- Automobile exception: searching vehicles if an officer has probable cause to believe there is contraband inside and it would be moved before a warrant can be obtained
- Exigent circumstances: when there is no opportunity to obtain a warrant due to an emergency situation, e.g., life is at risk
Besides these exceptions, law enforcement officers can conduct limited detentions and frisks without a warrant if they have an articulable suspicion that criminal activity is occurring.
Contact a criminal defense attorney
Analyzing whether a search or seizure was legal requires a close look at many factors. In a drug case, a successful challenge to evidence can mean the difference between a dismissal and a conviction. Contact Bachner & Associates, P.C. in New York, New York, today to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense lawyer to discuss your situation and learn about your rights and options.
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