This is the first post in a series which will discuss dealing with Little Rock, Arkansas criminal cases which involve confidential informants. We are writing on this topic due to the fact, more often than one may realize, law enforcement bases charges upon evidence gained through such informants. Defendants in these types of cases are often not aware of the ways in which they can challenge claims made by the informant. Our goal with this series is to provide information which will help people to better understand their situation and to also offer information which will allow the accused to make a more informed decision when selecting a criminal defense attorney. If you require assistance then contact our office today to speak with a lawyer.
We will be addressing a number of topics over our coming articles. Issues which we will analyze include:
- When Arkansas police may use confidential informants
- Challenging an informant through Motion practice
- Challenging an informant in Court
- Appealing the Court’s decision after a conviction
These are important topics for a defendant to understand for several reasons. First, law enforcement officials may not simply rely on the word of anyone who wishes to provide information in exchange for favorable treatment. Police may only rely on the word of an informant if that individual has a history of accurately and reliably providing information. Second, if a defendant has reason to believe that an informant was dishonest, or was otherwise unreliable, then the issuance of an arrest warrant may be challenged through a Motion. Third, even if filing a Motion is not practical it is possible to impeach the informant’s credibility at trial. Finally, issues involving informants are commonly appealed.
One point we cannot stress enough is cases involving informants deal with highly complicated areas of law. It is important that you retain an attorney experienced in handling such matters in order to ensure that your case is dealt with properly; if the arrest was largely based on the word of an unreliable informant then it may be possible to have the charges dismissed. Our Little Rock lawyers have over twenty-five years of combined experience in protecting the rights of the accused and we are ready to assist you. Contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation. We also handle matters in Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Springdale, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, Conway, Rogers, Pine Bluff, and throughout the rest of Arkansas.