What Must The State Prove At Each Phase Of A Criminal Case?
At each of the three phases of a criminal case, the state has the burden of production and the burden of persuasion. The burden of production is a responsibility to produce evidence on a given point. This evidence could be tangible proof, like the veritable “smoking gun,” or intangible proof, like a witness’ testimony. The burden of persuasion means this proof must be compelling in the eyes of a jury.
So, a Tampa criminal defense lawyer need not “prove” anything when these cases go to court. Instead, since the defendant doesn’t have the burden of proof, an attorney must only erode the state’s case at one or more points in the process. A DUI case is a good example of the way this process works.
The Stop
By the book, police officers must have reasonable suspicion to detain suspects, including motorists. Reasonable suspicion is basically an evidence-based hunch of criminal activity.
In a few cases, reasonable suspicion in a DUI or other stop is relatively straightforward. An officer sees a traffic or other violation. This infraction could be a moving violation, like speeding, or a non-moving violation, like an expired registration sticker. Then, the officer pulls the defendant over and launches a DUI investigation.
But in other cases, officers work backwards. They suspect criminal activity, perhaps because the defendant is driving erratically but not illegally or the defendant acts nervous when s/he sees a patrol car. Then, the officer follows the suspect until s/he commits a traffic violation. In this situation, the reasonable suspicion is a hunch and then the evidence, as opposed to the evidence and then the hunch.
Challenging the stop is rather risky. Usually, the defendant must testify and tell his/her side of the story. This approach might or might not be consistent with the overall defense strategy in a case.
The Arrest
Before they put the cuffs on suspects, officers must have probable cause. Unlike reasonable suspicion, which was discussed above, and beyond a reasonable doubt, which is discussed below, there is no precise probable cause definition.
In a DUI case, officers initially often look for physical symptoms, like bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcohol. However, such symptoms only prove consumption. They do not prove intoxication.
So, probable cause in a DUI usually hinges on the field sobriety tests, like the walk-and-turn test. If the officer believes the defendant failed any part of any test, that’s usually sufficient for probable cause. Since the standard is so low, there are not many ways to successfully challenge this portion of a criminal case.
In Court
Beyond a reasonable doubt, the legal standard of proof in criminal cases, is a nebulous concept. Florida’s definition is better than most other states’ definition. But Florida Standard Jury Instruction 2.03 is extremely wordy and hard for jurors to understand.
Assume Ben and Jerry are in a car that causes a collision. Officers arrive on scene and discover they are both intoxicated. But both Ben and Jerry had exited the vehicle by the time the investigation began. So, it’s impossible to tell which one was driving the car. As a result, DUI (driving under the influence) charges against either Ben or Jerry most likely wouldn’t hold up in court.
Work with a Dedicated Hillsborough County Attorney
A criminal charge is not the same thing as a criminal conviction. For a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, contact the OA Law Firm. After hours, home, and jail visits are available.
Resource:
law.cornell.edu/wex/burden_of_proof
