6 Scenarios Where Criminal Charges Can Be Dismissed

Despite a declining rate of violent crimes since 1990, the US has the most prisoners. In 2019, the U.S. crime rate was 4.99, an increase of 1.14% from 2018. The 2018 U.S. crime rate was 4.93, down 5.99% from 2017.

Criminal charges might be daunting, but legal or procedural errors can dismiss them. Each case is distinct, but dismissal options are comparable. Criminal defense lawyers from Chudnovsky Law or other reputable firms can help you with your criminal case and find legal loopholes that can help in dismissing such charges.

One might think that once the charges are brought up, they are difficult to dismiss. However, the following six scenarios might cause a criminal charge to be completely dismissed:

No Probable Cause

Legal arrests require probable cause. The police may drop charges without probable cause. Insufficient evidence or inappropriate searches and seizures commonly cast doubts on the probable cause.

If the arrest was unwarranted, the court may drop charges. Cases dismissed for lack of reasonable cause demonstrate the judiciary’s commitment to criminal justice integrity and protecting citizens from being wrongly convicted.

Right To A Speedy Trial

A quick trial protects people from unwarranted criminal justice delays under the constitution. Dismissal may come from excessive arrest-to-trial time.

Overcrowded court dockets, administrative obstacles, and prosecution delays can prevent a speedy trial. The court may drop charges if the delay was unnecessary and hurt the defendant’s case. This safeguards the defendant’s fair trial, preserves evidence, and streamlines justice.

The dismissal of charges for a timely trial shows how important speedy legal proceedings are for criminal justice rights.

Miranda Rights Violation

Anyone who has seen a movie or TV show about American police officers knows the caution they must give suspects when arresting them. Miranda warnings or Miranda rights identify Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights.

Failure to “Mirandize” a suspect could make any remarks made during or after an arrest inadmissible in court. This contains police interrogation comments or confessions.

Deterring Miranda rights violations by dismissing charges promotes law enforcement’s constitutional and justice-oriented approach.

Withheld Exculpatory Evidence

For the criminal justice system to be fair, prosecutors must show proof. Misconduct by the prosecutor happens when they hide information that could help or hurt their case.

The courts don’t agree to this because this breach hurts trust in the law. Getting rid of charges is an important part of fixing major crimes and keeping the justice system running. By showing proof that clears someone, both sides get all the information they need for a fair trial. Using harsh legal penalties for breaking this promise stresses criminal ethics and openness.

Unreliable Or Tainted Evidence

Evidence admissibility is crucial in criminal cases. Inadmissible evidence, or tainted evidence, can lead to dropped charges. The law emphasizes rigorous and legal evidence collection and processing.

Defense lawyers must evaluate the evidence’s credibility. Defense attorneys may remove the chain of custody or forensic testing evidence to drop charges and promote criminal justice integrity.

Mistaken Identity

Poor police lineups, eyewitness misidentification, and witness evidence can lead to mistaken identity accusations. A case can be dismissed for doubtful identification. Misidentifications wrongly prosecute someone, which is a miscarriage of justice.

If the defense discredits the identification technique, the court may drop charges. Fairness and justice necessitate accurate identification and mistaken identity resolution in criminal justice.

Conclusion

Legal errors can help in the dismissal of charges. These six cases demonstrate common reasons for case dismissals and the importance of constitutional rights and legal norms. Criminal defendants should see a lawyer immediately to assess and consider dismissal.