There are many different types of criminal defenses and which is likely to be the most successful depends mostly on what evidence there is to support your innocence or evidence of mistakes police officers and other law enforcement or laboratory officials made. In the latter instance, this is called a procedural defense. Here’s what to know and how a Florida criminal defense attorney can help you.
The Definition of a Procedural Defense
, and any other authorities who interact with the defendant’s case. Instead of arguing a defendant’s innocence, a lawyer employing a procedural defense will focus on undermining as much of the prosecution’s case as possible.
Types of Procedural Defense Strategies
This kind of defense can be particularly effective, because it doesn’t matter whether or not the defendant actually committed the crime. There are many different types of procedural defenses, including but not limited to:
- A defendant was denied a speedy trial
- Falsified evidence or evidence obtained during a search violating Fourth Amendment rights
- Coerced confessions from witnesses or otherwise falsified confessions
- Prosecutorial misconduct
- The police entrapped the defendant, forcing them to commit the crime they then arrested the defendant for
How to Win With a Procedural Defense
In order to successfully mount a procedural defense, you need to hire an experienced defense lawyer who can argue these points on your behalf. Federal and state criminal codes can be complicated and difficult to understand, and failure to make your argument well enough will usually result in the failure of your entire defense. An attorney can zealously argue procedural errors and unethical conduct by any authorities who have been working on your case, increasing the chances of a win.
Without an experienced criminal law firm on your side, you run the very real risk of facing jail time, fines, community service, probation, mandatory counseling, and other serious consequences — including having a permanent criminal record for the rest of your life. A record affects job prospects, home purchases, and more.
Call The Law Offices of T. Martin Knopes now to book a consultation in Okaloosa County, Florida by calling (850) 683-0700. Attorney Knopes is available now to help you form a solid and compelling defense strategy using the most convincing evidence in your case.