Phases of a Criminal Drug
Case
From Start to Finish
INVESTIGATION
PROSECUTION
POST PROSECUTION
INVESTIGATION
 INTERDICTION
 CONTROLLED BUYS
 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANTS
 SEARCH WARRANTS
INVESTIGATION
 SURVEILLANCE
 INTERVIEW SUSPECTS
 SEND DRUGS AND PARAPHERNALIA TO
CRIME LAB
INVESTIGATION
 INTERDICTION
 Intensified traffic patrol with the intent to intercept drug
traffickers
 Officers make stops for traffic violations
 Sometimes multiple officers working as a team
 Usually involves drug dog
INVESTIGATION
 CONTROLLED BUYS
 Undercover purchases drugs from individual
drug dealer
 Undercover purchases from the store
INVESTIGATION
Confidential Informants
These are the people who agree to work
for law enforcement
Put through a screening with other law
enforcement to avoid conflicts
INVESTIGATION
 SEARCH WARRANTS
 Must establish probable cause
 Search Warrants can take you almost any place
INVESTIGATION
SURVEILLANCE
INVESTIGATION
SEND DRUGS AND
PARAPHERNALIA TO LAB
Follow proper procedures
PROSECUTION
CASE IS SENT TO THE
PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
SO WHAT HAPPENS
NEXT?
PROSECUTION
 PROSECUTOR REVIEWS THE CASE AND
RELEVANT LAW
 SCREEN FOR ANY SEARCH AND SEIZURE
ISSUES
 CHARGE CASE AND WARRANT ISSUED
PROSECUTION
 PROSECUTOR REVIEWS CASE AND
RELEVANT LAW
 Drug laws are found in Chapter 195 Revised
Statues of Missouri
 Legislature is looking into changing the chapter
the statutes are in to place them within the
other criminal code statutes
PROSECUTION
 195.017 gives definitions of drugs and the
schedules from 1 to 5.
 Synthetic cannabinoids are defined in this
section
PROSECUTION
 195.202, Possession or Control of a Controlled
Substance, Penalty
 195.211 is the Distribution, Delivery, Manufacture
or Production of a Controlled Substance
 Subsequent statutes enhance punishment for
location of distribution and purchaser of drug.
 195.233 Unlawful Use of Drug Paraphernalia
PROSECUTION
 SCREEN FOR 4TH AMENDMENT ISSUES
 Traffic Stops
 Home Searches
 Business Searches
PROSECUTION
CHARGE CASE WARRANT ISSUED
Take to judge to get a warrant
Set a bond amount
Defendant advised of charges
Preliminary hearing
Motions to suppress
POST PROSECUTION
Probation
Prison
Post conviction relief hearings
Appeals