When it comes to evidence, criminal lawyers in Bradenton – whether they’re prosecutors or defenders – are well aware that the tiniest piece of matter can mean the difference between a life spent doing hard time and a free future. That’s why a recent story about massive failures in evidence handling and testing by the Department of Justice is something every criminal lawyer in Bradenton must keep in mind. An old saying holds that it’s better for ten guilty people to walk free than for one innocent person go to jail. But if the federal justice scandal is any indication, many of those involved in putting criminals behind bars believe exactly the opposite.
If you’re accused of a crime in Bradenton, you have a constitutional right to a legal criminal defense. That is a civil liberty guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution. Thanks to the landmark 1966 Miranda decision, U.S. residents must be informed of that right before prosecuting attorneys can interrogate any suspect in custody. It’s the job of the suspect’s criminal lawyers to establish sufficient reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury. Prosecutors are required to make full disclosure of all the evidence pertaining to the suspect’s criminal case to the suspect’s lawyers. Even a shred of material can tip a case toward conviction or acquittal, which is why evidence must be scrupulously handled and safeguarded.
Recently, the Washington Post uncovered clear evidence that federal law enforcement officers and attorneys withheld information from defense counsels that may have kept their clients out of jail. In case after case, forensic evidence was found to be tainted or unreliable due to poor standards and practices at crime labs throughout the federal system. This information was deliberately concealed from criminal lawyers and their clients, meaning that it’s entirely possible that some people who might have been exonerated by faulty evidence are still behind bars. What’s worse, for years, the Justice Department made no efforts to correct its forensic practices and even conspired to keep the reports of faulty crime work secret.
The full impact of this scandal is yet to be determined, but for criminal lawyers in Braden and across the U.S., the facts are sobering. If the Post’s story is an indication of the mindset of those involved in criminal justice at the federal level, what is the likelihood that the mindset is any different in state or municipal court systems in places like Bradenton? The sad truth is that we may now live in a society where those involved in guarding public safety believe that ten innocent persons must be imprisoned lest a single guilty man walk free.
Criminal Lawyers Bradenton Are you facing criminal charges in Bradenton? Rely on qualified criminal lawyers in Bradenton to help you work through this difficult situation. The Law Offices of Wyndel G. Darvill offer legal services for accused persons in Bradenton and surrounding areas. For a free case evaluation, call 941-309-5373 to schedule an appointment or visit us at Thelawofficeofwgd.com.
