Getting Fake ID/Forgery Charges Dismissed in Connecticut

People typically do not consider using fake IDs a big deal. If anything, most people consider fake IDs a right of passage, however, the consequences for using a fake ID can be quite serious. An individual could be forced to pay excessive fines, have to go on probation, and have the charge on their record. Consult a qualified fake ID attorney if you want to know more about getting fake ID/forgery charges dismissed in Connecticut.

When might a person be able to get their charges dismissed?

The most common method of getting fake ID/forgery charges dismissed in Connecticut is to use the accelerated rehabilitation (AR) program. It allows someone with no prior convictions to stay out of trouble for a certain period and have the charges dismissed. Another way to get a charge dismissed is when there is a constitutional issue with the search or the seizure, or the arrest. The attorney can get some of the evidence suppressed. As a result, there is the possibility that the charge is dismissed due to lack of supporting evidence. That way is less common but it does happen; especially where a search takes place as part of the arrest. In other instances, the police may have come across

Violating Constitutional Rights

The most common way a person’s constitutional rights can be violated is a violation of the Fourth Amendment that protects people from unreasonable search and seizure. For example, the arresting officer did a search without probable cause to do so. The officer did not have a warrant and did not have consent. Because of that, the police officer found a fake ID. An experienced attorney can file a motion to suppress the evidence gained because of the unlawful search. When the attorney is successful in doing so, the State of Connecticut cannot use evidence of the fake ID against the person.

Another way a law enforcement officer can violate a person’s constitutional rights is to interrogate or question them prior to reading their Miranda rights or informing them of their right to have a lawyer present. For example, an officer has someone in custody and starts questioning them without reading them their rights and the person makes an incriminating statement as the result of those questions. The attorney can file a motion to suppress any statement made because of that interrogation because the person did not have their rights read to them.

Pretrial Accelerated Rehabilitation Programs Explained

The pre-trial accelerated rehabilitation (AR) is a program for first-time offenders who do not have any criminal records, no prior convictions, and have not used the program before. To qualify for the program, the judge must make two findings and an experienced attorney can argue to the judge that these two things are true.

First, they need to find that the person is unlikely to offend again. The attorney must show certain aspects of the person’s background and demonstrate why they are a good candidate for the program. The attorney must show why the person will not engage in criminal activity in the future and demonstrate why their client will not get into trouble again. The second part is to show that the crime is not too serious of an offense to precede these other programs. The attorney focuses on what makes the crime not so serious in nature and why it is not too serious to get into the AR program.

What Happens After the Charges Are Dismissed?

In Connecticut, once the AR is over, the attorney can move for a dismissal on the person’s behalf and the case can be dismissed. There is an erasure statute in Connecticut where automatically upon dismissal of the charges, the records are completely sealed to the public; no one can get access to them. The charge expunged and the person, because of that erasure statute, can swear under oath that they have never been arrested once the charges are dismissed.

In this day and age, the arrest is reported online by small online news hubs and local news hubs. When the case is dismissed, some firms offer internet scrubbing services that could potentially get those articles removed. Many times, even after an attorney has succeeded in getting fake ID/forgery charges dismissed in Connecticut, the articles are still on the internet haunting the person’s future, even though there was no conviction. Many firms offer the service to try to get the arrest reports removed so when the case is over, it is truly over.

Necessity of a Connecticut Forgery Attorney

In Connecticut, a fake ID charge is a felony under forgery in the second degree and is quite serious. A conviction can have a lasting impact on the person’s whole future. When someone is a convicted felon, they must deal with a permanent criminal record. Their criminal record can affect job opportunities, internship opportunities, and comes with the social stigma of being a convicted felon. In addition, if someone pleads guilty or is found guilty of forgery, the possible penalties are considerable. The person is faced with up to five years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, a period of probation, travel restrictions, and providing a DNA sample. That is why it is important for individuals to collaborate with attorneys on getting fake ID/forgery charges dismissed in Connecticut. A qualified defense attorney could devote the time and resources necessary to achieve a positive outcome for an individual.