If you have recently been arrested, this experience may have caused you to react negatively. However, if the arresting police used force that could cause bodily harm, then you do have a right to defend yourself.
Complicated issues like this have been profiled in recent months and years in new stories, making these concerns more important than ever.
A recent study showed that there is bias in police use of force, but not when it comes to shooting. The research study explored more than 1000 shootings across ten major police departments in Florida, Texas and California.
The study confirmed that black women and men are treated differently at the hands of law enforcement. They are more likely to be:
- Pepper sprayed by a police officer
- Pushed to the ground by a police officer
- Handcuffed
- Touched
This is true even after study researchers accounted for when, how and where these individuals encountered the police. When it comes to the most lethal form of force, however, police shootings, the study did not find any racial bias.
If an officer’s use of force is considered to be excessive, then it could lead to unjustifiable bodily harm for you. Most states consider whether or not a reasonable person under similar circumstances would have believed that the use of force was likely to cause serious physical harm including death.
If the answer to that question is yes, then the police officer could be held accountable for his or her behavior. You need to share all of your concerns about the arrest process with your Jacksonville criminal attorney as soon as possible.
The circumstances of your arrest and in particular, if police officers took liberties that violated your civil rights, could compromise the integrity of their investigation and follow up case against you.
There are many complex issues at play in cases like this, which is why you need to have a Jacksonville criminal defense attorneys you can trust from day one.
Walking through the specifics of your arrest can help to identify whether there were any other problems including illegal search and seizure. No matter what happened at the scene of the arrest, officers have to follow protocol and respect your rights. When the lines are crossed, the integrity of their behavior and their process is called into question.
Do I Really Need an Attorney?
In cases where you’ve been accused of any crime, whether misdemeanor or felony, you need a lawyer at your side. This is even more true when you believe that the police violated your rights.
You need an attorney who cares just as much about your future as you do. Don’t let your future slip away; hire an attorney you can trust. An experienced attorney can investigate your case, speak with prosecutors, and work towards the best possible solution for you.
This can be a challenging defense strategy to pursue, though, so it’s one you should work on with your criminal defense lawyer. It can be a big mistake to accept a public defender on your case. You need an experienced and committed criminal defense attorney when the stakes are this high.
If the police did not follow their own processes appropriately or if your rights were violated any time, this could mean that your charges are dropped or the penalties could be seriously reduced.
Police Used Force : Contact a Jacksonville Criminal Defense Attorney
Having a Jacksonville criminal defense attorneys who is well aware of the law as well as the local procedures in your area can be extremely advantageous for your case.
A Jacksonville criminal defense attorney can explain to you how your case is likely to proceed through the Florida court process and what you can expect at each stage.
This can be extremely helpful as being charged with a crime and contemplating all of these stressful events going along with that can seem overwhelming even for the calmest individuals.
If you have recently been accused of a crime, do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced Jacksonville criminal defense lawyers to defend your rights.
Learn more about why a criminal defense attorney can help you: http://www.mariarogerslaw.com/why-do-i-need-a-criminal-defense-attorney/#more-224