The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees protection for Americans against “unlawful search and seizures” by the government. It is because of this amendment that law enforcement is often required to obtain a warrant before searching someone’s home, car, or personal effects.
By law, evidence obtained through an illegal search and seizure is not admissible in court. There are exceptions to this rule, but a Four Amendment defense can lead to charges being reduced or dismissed. Challenging the legality of a police officer’s method of obtaining evidence has been a strong defense against murder charges, drug charges, DUI charges, assault charges, and more.
In this article, we will explore what illegal search and seizure is, how it can affect a drug charge, and how to contact an Illinois criminal defense attorney to start building your defense.