If police arrest you in Nassau or Suffolk County, they may collect evidence like drugs, weapons, or other physical items. Prosecutors can try to use that evidence against you in court. Before trial, the court may hold a suppression hearing. This type of hearing decides whether the evidence is allowed or must be excluded from your case. Long Island suppression hearings are crucial because they can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Our experienced Long Island criminal defense attorneys are here to guide you through the process and protect your rights.
What is a Suppression Hearing?
A suppression hearing is a legal procedure where your lawyer argues that certain evidence gathered by the police shouldn’t be used in court. If the court agrees that the evidence was collected improperly, it can’t be used against you. This could lead to your charges being reduced or even dropped if the remaining evidence isn’t enough to prove your guilt.
Types of Long Island Suppression Hearings
Here’s a straightforward guide to the different types of suppression hearings that can be held in Nassau County and Suffolk County courts:
1. Mapp Hearing
Purpose: To determine if the police collected evidence legally.
Example: If the police searched your pockets without proper suspicion and found illegal drugs, a Mapp Hearing will decide if those drugs can be used in court. If the search was illegal, the drugs might be excluded from your trial.
2. Huntley Hearing
Purpose: To review whether your statements to the police were made voluntarily and with proper warnings.
Example: If you were questioned by the police without being informed of your right to remain silent, your statements might be thrown out of court during a Huntley Hearing.
3. Wade Hearing
Purpose: To assess whether police identification procedures, like lineups or photo arrays, were unduly suggestive.
Example: If you were the only person in a lineup with a distinctive feature that matched the witness’s description, the lineup might be considered unfair. The witness’s identification of you could then be excluded.
4. Rodriguez Hearing
Purpose: To determine if a witness knew you before the crime, which could affect their identification of you.
Example: If a witness knew you from before and recognized you in a lineup, the Nassau or Suffolk District Attorney’s Office might argue that this prior relationship made the police-arranged identification simply confirmative and ask to uphold it on that basis.
5. Dunaway Hearing
Purpose: To decide if there was a valid reason for your arrest.
Example: If you were arrested without sufficient evidence or suspicion (probable cause), any evidence obtained afterward might be thrown out.
6. Ingle Hearing
Purpose: To determine whether the police had a legal justification to stop your vehicle.
Example: If you were pulled over for a traffic violation that led to a weapons possession charge, your attorney may request an Ingle Hearing to challenge the legality of the stop. If the court finds the stop was unlawful—for example, if there was no reasonable suspicion—the evidence obtained after the stop, the weapon and any incriminating statements, could be suppressed.
7. Alfinito Hearing
Purpose: To check if intentionally false information was used to obtain a search warrant.
Example: If the police lied to get a warrant to search your home, any evidence found during that search might be excluded from your trial.
8. Franks Hearing
Purpose: Similar to the Alfinito Hearing, but focuses on whether a search warrant was based on false statements (regardless of intent).
Example: If the search warrant was issued based on misleading or false information, the evidence obtained from the search might be suppressed.
9. Sandoval Hearing
Purpose: To determine if your past crimes can be used to challenge your credibility if you testify.
Example: If you decide to testify and the prosecution wants to use your previous convictions to question your trustworthiness, a Sandoval Hearing will decide if this evidence can be presented to discredit your testimony.
10. Ventimiglia Hearing
Purpose: To review if evidence of other crimes can be used to show important facts about the current charges.
Example: If the prosecution wants to introduce evidence of other alleged crimes to prove something relevant to the current case, the prosecution will argue whether this evidence should be admitted on its direct case. Usually, the prosecutor asks to use charged crimes to show your motive, identity, absence of mistake, intent, common scheme of plan, opportunity, or preparation.
Why These Hearings Matter in Nassau and Suffolk Criminal Courts
Long Island suppression hearings are crucial in determining the trajectory of your criminal case in Nassau and Suffolk County courts. These hearings serve several important functions:
- Ensuring Fairness: They are designed to ensure that the evidence used against you was collected in a lawful and fair manner. This means that your constitutional rights, such as protection against unreasonable stops and searches, are upheld. If evidence is obtained illegally or unfairly, it may be excluded, preventing any violations of your rights.
- Impact on Prosecution’s Case: If the evidence that the prosecution relies on is suppressed, it can significantly weaken their case. Without this evidence, the prosecution might struggle to meet the burden of proof required to convict you. This can lead to the reduction or dismissal of charges, as the remaining evidence may not be sufficient to proceed with the case.
- Strategic Advantage: Successfully challenging evidence through these hearings can provide a strategic advantage in your defense. The testimony of prosecution witnesses at these hearings can reveal weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and potentially lead to better plea offers or more favorable trial outcomes.
- Protecting Your Rights: These hearings are an opportunity to challenge the legality of the evidence and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the legal process. By scrutinizing how evidence was collected and handled, we can identify any procedural errors that could benefit your defense. Even if the evidence is not suppressed, we may still be able to identify errors that can be used to challenge the prosecution’s case at trial.
- Influencing Case Strategy: The outcome of these hearings can also influence the overall strategy of your defense. If key evidence is excluded, it can change the direction of negotiations and impact how we approach your case. It’s essential to have a knowledgeable attorney who can effectively use these hearings to your advantage.
Get Help from a Former Nassau County Prosecutor
Facing criminal charges on Long Island is serious and demands skilled legal representation. You need an experienced Nassau County defense lawyer protecting your rights. Long Island Suppression hearings involve complex rules about what evidence can be used. Our firm understands Nassau and Suffolk County court procedures inside and out.
Our legal team brings insight from both sides of the courtroom. We know how prosecutors build their cases and how to respond. This perspective allows us to craft strategic, tailored defenses for our clients. Our firm is committed to protecting your rights at every stage.
Call us today at (516) 765-5566 to schedule a free and confidential case consultation and start protecting your rights.
