What is a Frisk?
A frisk in the context of a law enforcement search is also known as a pat-down.
It is less intrusive than a full body search. The purpose of a frisk is to ensure an officer’s safety by confirming that a suspect encountered by police is not armed and dangerous.
If you have criminal charges, it is likely that you will be faced with the decision of whether or not to take your case to trial. As an alternative to trial, you may be offered a plea deal. In some cases the prosecution can offer participation in a deferred prosecution program if it is available for certain types of criminal charges.
Last year Maricopa County Superior Court reported that of 99.8 percent of terminated criminal cases, only 2.2 percent went to trial.
The United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) reported similar statistics in 2016. The USSC reported 97.3 percent of criminal cases were resolved without trial, while only 2.7 percent went to trial.
In Arizona police are permitted to request a warrantless, non-consensual blood draw, from a DUI suspect who is unconscious under A.R.S. §28- 1321.
The blood draw may be unconstitutional if an individual’s rights are violated in the process.
Recently, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the unconscious clause is permissible only when invoked non-routinely, under exigent circumstances that are case-specific.
Under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, a person has the right to be protected from unlawful searches and seizures.
This protection extends to a DUI blood test. Consequently, police need a suspect’s consent or a search warrant to obtain a blood sample for a DUI investigation.
Without the person’s consent or a search warrant, it is unlawful for the police to collect a DUI blood sample.
What is Reasonable Suspicion?
Reasonable Suspicion is a standard of proof in criminal law recognized throughout the United States.
It refers to the justification needed by police to make an investigative stop.
A medical marijuana cardholder can raise an affirmative defense when charged with driving under the influence under § 28-1381(A)(3).
Recently, an Arizona appellate court considered an important case where the Justices reviewed what it takes to prove this affirmative defense.
This article sheds light on some important related criminal law and defense topics:
In Arizona, we recently learned of a tragic story.
Police officers answered a domestic dispute, and the suspect was fatally shot by police.
When the officer arrived on scene, he encountered a woman outside a home.
No one who drinks expects to get a DUI or be the victim of an alcohol related disaster.
It is important to remember that others on the road may be driving dangerously due to drug or alcohol impairment.
Often people who have been drinking, lose track of how much they are drinking, and have not planned for an alternative ride home or arranged for a designated driver.
In any criminal trial, the timing in which the defense theory is presented to the jury, is equally as important as the defense itself.
In a recent case decided by the Arizona Supreme Court, the defendant was charged with Marijuana transportation, and challenged the charges using Arizona’s Dress defense.
The defendant testified that smugglers armed with weapons, forced him to carry large bundles of Marijuana into the Arizona desert.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court Miranda v. Arizona, 1966.
Since that time, police have been required to read suspects their Miranda rights while in custody before they are interrogated.
The Miranda principle has faced many legal challenges, including when police are required to read the rights.
Arizona Criminal Defense Attorney Blog
