The Southampton Police Department is the latest law enforcement agency to come under scrutiny for failing to process evidence properly after an arrest and search. The missing drugs include crack, marijuana and prescription painkillers tied to a Southampton drug unit. These sloppy tactics have constitutional ramifications.
It’s called the chain of evidence. In order to prosecute for drug-related crimes that involve actual possession, district attorneys must prove that the incriminating evidence was properly handled by police. This sequencing includes:
The chain of evidence shows:
Any break in the chain of evidence may lead a judge to suppress crucial evidence at trial, preventing the prosecution from presenting it to the jury. In Southampton, multiple criminal cases have already been dismissed due to improper storage and mishandling of criminal evidence. If you’re facing drug possession charges, it’s vital to have an experienced criminal defense attorney or criminal attorney in NYC who can challenge breaks in the chain of evidence and protect your rights in court.
Knowledgeable criminal defense lawyers have the legal savvy needed to examine police officers to discern whether there is any break in the chain of evidence. This is a most important step in the rigorous defense of a criminal prosecution. Nassau County’s police crime labs were closed in February 2011 for gross negligence in the handling of evidence, and. 3,000 pieces of evidence have to be retested by an independent laboratory at a cost of $1 million to check the integrity of the Nassau County crime lab results. Already courts have overturned some convictions.
The integrity of the criminal justice system depends on maintaining a strong chain of evidence, which is often a weak link for the prosecution. Skilled defense attorneys like Joseph Tacopina, a leading criminal defense attorney in New York, can sometimes break this weak link and protect your rights in court.