When the Officer Testifying Against You Has a History of Lying
It may or may not be a surprise to learn that police officers do not always tell the truth under oath. Many law enforcement officers are good, civic-minded persons who genuinely care about protecting their communities. Others, however, are determined to get a conviction at any cost – even at the expense of the truth. Defendants charged with any crime have the right to cross-examine the officers who are testifying against them. They also have the right to cross-examine an officer about his or her reputation for truthfulness and ask about former occasions where the officer lied under oath. These important rights are guaranteed by the Due Process protections of the Fifth Amendment and the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment.
If you are facing criminal charges, it is important to be represented by a criminal defense attorney who is prepared to cross-examine any law enforcement officer who may be testifying against you. The experienced Miami criminal defense attorney at Stroleny Law: Criminal Defense Attorney has spent years fighting to protect defendants from improper conduct and testimony by law enforcement officers. Call (305) 615-1285 today to arrange your free phone consultation. Don’t delay – the sooner you are represented by an experienced criminal defense attorney, the better protected your constitutional rights will be.
Improper Police Conduct Right Here in Florida
Sadly, lying under oath is not always an isolated instance. Some cases involve far more complex schemes that are designed to cover far worse behavior. The New York Times reported on one such case that resulted in the former police chief of Biscayne Park being sentenced to three years in federal prison. According to testimony from the officer who worked for him, Raimundo Atensiano ordered officers in his department to “arrest black people for crimes they did not commit” in order to give the impression that his department was solving crimes. Atensiano’s lawyer employed the interesting legal strategy of admitting that his client allowed his officers to falsify arrest affidavits, but denying that his officers were ever instructed to arrest someone based upon race.
The Atesiano case is shocking in its wanton disregard for the rule of law. One hopes that such conduct would be a complete anomaly. The sad fact is that police misconduct happens every day in America. One of the most direct and important ways to stop it is to fight criminal charges that are based on false testimony.
Call Us Today to Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Miami
All defendants have important legal rights that are guaranteed by the Constitution. They have the right to due process in the criminal case against them. They have the right to confront the evidence against them (both by pretrial disclosures of evidence and cross-examination of government witnesses in court). These rights are critical to a fair criminal justice system in Florida, and many defendants have to fight for these rights with the assistance of a skilled criminal defense attorney. At Stroleny Law: Criminal Defense Attorney, we fight hard to ensure that our clients’ constitutional rights are protected in every case we take. Call (305) 615-1285 today to arrange your free phone consultation. You can also reach us online by submitting our online contact form.
Stroleny Law: Criminal Defense Attorney handles a variety of criminal law cases, so call now if you have any questions.
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