Challenging Unlawful Police Conduct
In many cases, over-zealous police are more interested in finding drugs and making arrests than they are in a citizen's constitutional rights against unlawful search and seizure. Recent court decisions have affirmed these important rights and limited the permissible scope of investigative police activity.
If you are charged with a drug offense, you need a lawyer who knows exactly what the police are, and are not, allowed to do. As lawyers who have litigated dozens of suppression issues, Morris and Hart are familiar with this complex area of the law.
Alternatives to Confinement
Often times the most important goal for a client charged with a drug crime is to avoid imprisonment in favor of an available treatment alternative. Thankfully, drug crime penalties have been significantly reduced in recent years, and courts are looking more and more to getting people out of jail and into treatment.
"Drug Court" may be among the options available to if you have been arrested for a drug crime. Two drug court programs in the Seattle area include the King County Drug Diversion Court Program and the Snohomish County Superior Court CHART drug court treatment program. If you qualify for one of these diversion programs, it may be possible to obtain dismissal of your charges, provided you seek treatment and fulfill other conditions. Other alternatives may include Community Center for Alternative Programs (CCAP), Electronic Home Monitoring (EHM), Work Release, and the Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative (DOSA).
At Morris and Hart, we know the system, and we know how to take advantage of every available alternative to incarceration.
Charges of Drug Trafficking, Delivery, Distribution or Possession With Intent
At the law firm of Morris and Hart, we believe in a comprehensive approach to defending against the potentially more serious charges involving the sale, delivery, distribution, manufacture or cultivation of drugs. Among the issues we will investigate when developing a defense is whether informants were used, and if so, how they were handled and compensated.
Police often use informants who are drug addicts or lifelong criminals, so a complete investigation into the informant's background is vital. Issues regarding entrapment may sometimes also arise. Most importantly, police officers are experienced courtroom testifiers who present themselves as experts, oftentimes beyond the limits of their training and experience. These complex cases require the skill that only criminal defense attorneys with experience in defending against drug crimes can provide.
Recovering Property from Forfeiture
The police will often seize property in the course of a drug crime investigation. This property is usually retained as evidence, but sometimes the police will try to lay claim to your property, arguing it is or was purchased with the proceeds of a drug crime. You have the right to contest a forfeiture notice, but it is important to act fast, because there are limits for making a claim. Morris and Hart will work to negotiate the return of your property with the police department, and will pursue a court hearing if necessary.
Move Forward with Confidence
At Morris and Hart, we are very experienced at defending drug charges, challenging unlawful police conduct, investigating informants, and picking apart police officer testimony. We also know the system, so we can take advantage of available treatment alternatives that keep our clients out of jail.
If you or a loved one is facing a drug charge, contact our attorneys Daron Morris and Brent Hart today. Call us 206-801-5162 or send an e-mail for more information or to schedule a free consultation.
