What If The Police Used An Informant In My Case? What Can My Criminal Defense Attorney Do?
Before a police officer can stop a person, they must have reasonable suspicion that criminal activity is occurring. One way in which police can get reasonable suspicion is through informants’ tips.
Sometimes, people will inform the police about suspected criminal activity. These tips must be sufficiently reliable in order for the police to have reasonable suspicion based upon them. In Florida v. J.L., the United States Supreme Court held that an anonymous tip saying that the defendant was in possession of a firearm was not sufficiently reliable. The tip provided no predictive information and therefore left the police without means to test the informant’s knowledge or credibility. Because the officer’s suspicion was based on an unreliable tip, the court held he did not have reasonable suspicion to detain the defendant.
It’s important to hire an attorney who can recognize these key legal issues. California’s experienced criminal defense attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have over 30 years experience trying criminal cases. They can aggressively and effectively represent you in court to get your case resolved to your satisfaction.
For a consultation to discuss your offense or hearing, please call us at 1-888-280-6839. Our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer any of your questions. You can also visit us at www.wklaw.com for more information.