Do you need a Boston drug lawyer? Have you been arrested for a criminal drug charge such as drug trafficking or drug possession? Is there a drug informant that has helped to make the case against you?
Not all cases with informants stand up in court. You need to have a Boston criminal drug lawyer who understands the legal standards which apply to the use of informants in drug cases.
Many drug cases arise from police using cooperating witnesses or confidential informants. Generally, these are people who have been arrested and have sought favorable results for themselves as a result of cooperating with police. They have worked with police to target other individuals for prosecution.
Most often informants are trying to secure beneficial results for themselves in their own criminal cases, or are receiving monetary payment for their information. Therefore, there is great incentive for informants to lie.
There are common misconceptions about the use of informants. While it is not illegal to use informants, there are constitutional and other legal criteria that must be followed by the police when using informants. A knowledgeable Boston criminal drug lawyer knows when the police have not followed the proper procedures regarding the use of informants and may be able to prevent the results of the investigation from being used in court.
If you are charged with a drug offense, it is important that you have a lawyer who has experience dealing with informants. A knowledgeable Boston criminal drug lawyer will be able to determine if a case involving the use of an informant should be dismissed.
There is often confusion about whether an informant must appear in court and be identified and subjected to questioning by the defense, While there are laws designed to protect the police and use of informants, there are also laws designed to protect the constitutional rights of the defendant. It is imperative that a defendant in a criminal drug case has a lawyer who understands these laws. Often police will promise informants they will not have to appear in court or have their identity revealed. This creates a scenario that may encourage informants to lie and fabricate evidence. In addition, there may be instances where the police have fabricated the existence of an informant. Typically judges do not know who the informant is and, often, even the prosecutor doesn’t know. They rely upon representations made by the police concerning the use of informants. A knowledgeable Boston criminal drug lawyer knows how and when to argue that an informant should be produced in court in order to expose false information.
If the defense attorney is successful in convincing the court to order that the identity of an informant be revealed, and the prosecution or the police refuse to identify the informant, the charges will be dismissed. In each drug case involving the use of the informants, we evaluate whether there are constitutional issues regarding the use of informants.
Types of Criminal Drug Cases We Handle
All criminal drug cases, Drug cases with informants, including manufacturing, distribution, and use of illegal drugs, trafficking, possession, intent to distribute, Heroin, Cocaine, Marijuana Possession, prescription drugs, controlled substances.
CONTACT A BOSTON CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER
Francis T. O’Brien has over twenty years experience involving a broad spectrum of criminal drug cases, including, but not limited to: Drug Trafficking, Possession of Drugs with the Intent to Distribute, possession of Class “B” Drug, and, Conspiracy to Violate Drug Laws. Criminal Defense Lawyer Francis T. O’Brien, Jr. is one of the top criminal defense lawyers in Boston, and he has helped many criminal defendants avoid convictions in nearly all areas of criminal defense law.
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617-512-0939
With 20 years of experience Attorney O’Brien has an outstanding record of defending the most complex criminal cases in Boston and Massachusetts.
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contact us online or telephone Francis T. O’Brien, Jr. at O’Brien Law Boston twenty four hours, seven days a week, toll free at 617-512-0939. There is no fee charged to discuss your case, and all information furnished will be kept strictly confidential.