When you have been charged with a drug crime, the consequences can be severe. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation with an attorney who will guide you through this complex area of law and respond aggressively to secure a timely, cost-effective conclusion to your legal problem.
Criminal Defense for Drug Crimes in Arizona
If you have been charged with a drug crime in Tempe, or the surrounding communities of Phoenix, Arizona, you need experienced criminal defense to protect your rights. At the Law Office of Raymond Kimble, we provide representation for clients accused of drug offenses that include possession, DUI drugs, trafficking, distribution and cultivation. These crimes are aggressively prosecuted and require a lawyer who understands the criminal justice system.
Attorney Raymond Kimble has more than 20 years of experience as a police detective, prosecutor and criminal defense attorney. We practice throughout Arizona and can provide the personal attention, honest advice and cost effective representation that you deserve. Contact us for a free initial consultation by e-mail or by calling 480-833-8613.
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A conviction for a drug crime can result in serious consequences, including fines, jail or prison time and other penalties. You need immediate assistance from an attorney who understands the law and will work for the best possible result in your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Have you been arrested for a drug crime in the state of Arizona? If so, you are facing serious charges and need experienced criminal defense to help you protect your rights. We represent clients in the Phoenix area, as well as Tempe and the state of Arizona. Call 480-833-8613 to speak with attorney Raymond Kimble about your case.
Criminal and Civil Forfeiture
Forfeiture is the government seizure of property connected to illegal activity. Utilized by the federal and state law enforcement in the ongoing "war on drugs," the practice has not been without controversy. Law enforcement has asserted that it is a necessary and effective deterrent to drug crime, while opponents argue that existing procedural safeguards result in too many innocent parties having their property taken away, with little or no recourse for recovery. If your property or assets have been the subject of a criminal or civil forfeiture, it is important to consult with an experienced forfeiture defense attorney from Law Office of Raymond Kimble in Tempe, Arizona to understand your rights and options.
Property Subject to Forfeiture
Government authority to seize property connected to illegal activity comes from federal statutes, as limited by those laws and the Constitution. Authorizing provisions of state and local statutes tend to be similar to federal law. The United States Supreme Court in Bennis v. Michigan identified certain categories of property subject to forfeiture:
- Contraband - property for which ownership itself is a crime (e.g. illegal drugs, smuggled goods)
- Proceeds from illegal activity - property that results from, or can be traced back to, illegal activity
- Tools or instrumentalities used in commission of crime - property used to commit a crime (e.g. cars, boats, real estate)
Two Forms of Forfeiture: Criminal and Civil
The government can take title to private property under criminal or civil law.
Criminal forfeiture is a punitive measure taken against a defendant after a conviction, where the government seizes property as a part of the sentence. Because it is a criminal proceeding, a defendant is afforded the protections of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. While the crime has to be proved beyond a reasonable doubt, the forfeiture requires a lower burden of proof. The government only needs to show by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant obtained the property around the time of the crime and that it was unlikely it came from any other source. The burden then shifts to the defendant to prove this is not the case.
By contrast, civil forfeiture actions proceed against the property itself, which is the defendant in the case rather than the owner. A criminal charge or conviction is not necessary before the government can seize. Prior to the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000, law enforcement only needed to show probable cause that the property was involved in a crime, usually through a search warrant, before the taking of the property. The 2000 Act raised this burden of proof to a preponderance of the evidence standard.
Not surprisingly, a vast majority of the forfeitures pursued by the government are civil. Forfeiture proceeds typically go toward funding law enforcement activity, such as payments to informants, buying equipment and building prisons, though some legislatures have specified other purposes like supporting public education. Because of law enforcement's strong financial incentive to use civil instead of criminal forfeiture, critics claim that the practice has moved from being a means to fighting drug-related crime, to being an end in itself. While provisions of the 2000 Act made it easier for innocent persons to challenge the seizure in court and get their property back, the practice remains controversial.
If Your Property Has Been Forfeited
Whether your property has been the subject of a criminal or civil forfeiture, defenses to the government's action exist, and there are ways to recover your property under the law. Consult with a knowledge forfeiture defense attorney today at Law Office of Raymond Kimble in Tempe, Arizona to discuss what options are available to you.
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