Phases of a Criminal Drug Case From Start to Finish
INVESTIGATION PROSECUTION POST PROSECUTION
INVESTIGATION INTERDICTION CONTROLLED BUYS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANTS SEARCH WARRANTS
INVESTIGATION SURVEILLANCE INTERVIEW SUSPECTS SEND DRUGS AND PARAPHERNALIA TO CRIME LAB
INVESTIGATION INTERDICTION Intensified traffic patrol with the intent to intercept drug traffickers Officers make stops for traffic violations Sometimes multiple officers working as a team Usually involves drug dog
INVESTIGATION CONTROLLED BUYS Undercover purchases drugs from individual drug dealer Undercover purchases from the store
INVESTIGATION Confidential Informants These are the people who agree to work for law enforcement Put through a screening with other law enforcement to avoid conflicts
INVESTIGATION SEARCH WARRANTS Must establish probable cause Search Warrants can take you almost any place
INVESTIGATION SURVEILLANCE
INVESTIGATION SEND DRUGS AND PARAPHERNALIA TO LAB Follow proper procedures
PROSECUTION CASE IS SENT TO THE PROSECUTORS OFFICE SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
PROSECUTION PROSECUTOR REVIEWS THE CASE AND RELEVANT LAW SCREEN FOR ANY SEARCH AND SEIZURE ISSUES CHARGE CASE AND WARRANT ISSUED
PROSECUTION PROSECUTOR REVIEWS CASE AND RELEVANT LAW Drug laws are found in Chapter 195 Revised Statues of Missouri Legislature is looking into changing the chapter the statutes are in to place them within the other criminal code statutes
PROSECUTION gives definitions of drugs and the schedules from 1 to 5. Synthetic cannabinoids are defined in this section
PROSECUTION , Possession or Control of a Controlled Substance, Penalty is the Distribution, Delivery, Manufacture or Production of a Controlled Substance Subsequent statutes enhance punishment for location of distribution and purchaser of drug Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia
PROSECUTION SCREEN FOR 4 TH AMENDMENT ISSUES Traffic Stops Home Searches Business Searches
PROSECUTION CHARGE CASE WARRANT ISSUED Take to judge to get a warrant Set a bond amount Defendant advised of charges Preliminary hearing Motions to suppress
POST PROSECUTION Probation Prison Post conviction relief hearings Appeals