MINNEAPOLIS CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY JENNIFER SPEAS
The war on drugs is a little less aggressive than it used to in some respects, but in others, the police are even more active in their efforts. Unfortunately, a lot of people get tangled up in drugs, and not all of them are bad people. Sometimes they need to support a family or sometimes they just want to escape for a little while. Regardless of the reason, if you were caught buying or selling drugs, you’re under arrest and that means trouble.
However, for many, they are considered a small catch. You could be a person without a previous record who was literally in the wrong place at the wrong time trying to get your fix. You are generally not the people the police are after, but they will look to punish you all the same. That is, unless you can help them get a bigger drug catch.
If you have been arrested for a drug crime, there might be a chance that law enforcement will offer to make you an informant for a reduced or dropped charge. However, you are right to be wary. Should you accept this curious offer?
NEVER ACCEPT POLICE AT THEIR WORD
If an officer comes in and presents you the offer of lower charges or even dropping the charges all together for your cooperation as an informant, it sounds like a sweet deal. Of course, we all know the real truth of things that are too good to be true.
If there is one rule about dealing with police, it is to get a lawyer. If you haven’t gotten one after your arrest, when they present an informant offer, now is the time to pull that trigger and make a call. The issue with becoming an informant is that police are prone to lying. Much of the time, they can lie in a completely legal capacity as well. If you forgo a lawyer, there are two situations you don’t want to be come true.
- The police do not hold true to their offer to reduce or drop your charge.
- The police didn’t actually even have a crime to charge you with in the first place.
For this reason, you want to bring the lawyer in to make sure neither of the above will ever be true. They can look over your arrest and potential charges to make sure they are indeed true. Furthermore, they can make sure any reductions or promises of dropped charges are recorded in legally-binding writing.
THE DANGERS OF BEING AN INFORMANT
The deal the police promise you may sound pretty good, and it is designed to. However, it is important to know that there is some danger in being an informant for the police. The big issue to consider here is that there is no such thing as a “confidential” informant. You may remain confidential, but only until their target is arrested. If the prosecution needs your information and testimony against this person, they will call you as a witness.
Under the law, you have the right to know those testifying against you. For a large drug player with a number of resources, this could become dangerous for you once the trial commences. Furthermore, the police many not give great priority to protecting their informants, especially after the trial is over. It makes it a dangerous situation for you and potentially those around you.
NEED HELP? CONTACT A LAWYER BEFORE TALKING TO THE POLICE
If you have been arrested on drug charges, regardless of if you get an offer to become an informant, contact us today. The Speas Law Firm can help make sure your punishments are limited and will offer you a stalwart legal defense for your mistakes.