If you’re facing criminal charges, a criminal defense attorney will argue for your best interests. But in many cases, there’s more to discuss than just how to have your criminal charges reduced or dropped. Unfortunately, racial profiling is the cause of many unjust traffic stops, arrests, and criminal charges in White Plains, New York.
If you believe you were pulled over, issued a ticket, or arrested because of racial profiling, you could have a strong defense for your case. Part of a criminal defense case is gathering evidence that proves that your charges were unfair, and racial profiling can definitely be a strong argument in your favor.
What is Racial Profiling?
ACLU defines racial profiling as “the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.”
NBC reports findings from a study that suggests that police definitely do engage in racial profiling when deciding who to pull over and which cars to search for illegal drugs.
Racial profiling is illegal, and yet it is a “tactic” used by police at alarming rates.
What To Do If You Suspect Racial Profiling
Contact a criminal defense attorney ASAP and explain your suspicions that you’re a victim of racial profiling. Darren DeUrso is a criminal defense attorney working to get justice for his clients in White Plains, NY. He has three decades of legal experience and holds the BV® Peer Review Rating™ by Martindale-Hubbell® – which is bestowed to only a fraction of America’s lawyers.
Possible Defenses To Combat Racial Profiling
If you’re being charged with a crime and you believe racial profiling had something to do with you being stopped or arrested, a criminal defense attorney can help you use the following potential defenses:
- Motion to Suppress: If incriminating evidence was seized during an improper search based on racial profiling, you can ask for a “motion to suppress.” Evidence of your crime cannot be used in court if it was gathered with illegal motives such as racial profiling. A criminal defense attorney can help you apply this “exclusionary rule” to your case. If you can prove to New York courts that evidence was seized during a police search that police conducted based on your race, the evidence can be excluded from consideration in your case because the search violated your Equal Protection rights under the U.S. Constitution.
- Lawsuit: Another option is to pursue monetary damages for the violation of your rights. You might have the option to sue the officer, the department, and/or the municipality responsible for the conduct that violated your civil rights.
If you’re facing criminal charges after being stopped or arrested because of your race, it’s time to get justice! Don’t let unconstitutional racial profiling determine your future – get help from an experienced criminal defense attorney who truly cares!
Call 914.772.8614 today for a free consultation.
Darren DeUrso, Attorney at Law
188 East Post Road, Suite 300
White Plains, NY 10601
Phone: 914.772.8614
Fax: 914-833-9788