Evidence can sometimes be suppressed if a search or seizure violated constitutional protections, such as the Fourth Amendment. If police lacked probable cause, exceeded the scope of a warrant, or conducted an unlawful search, a motion to suppress may lead the court to exclude certain evidence. This can dramatically affect the prosecution’s ability to meet its burden of proof. Your attorney will review the circumstances of the stop, search, and any warrants to determine whether suppression arguments are viable. Preparing a successful suppression motion requires a detailed factual record and sometimes testimony from officers or witnesses. Courts will assess whether the officers’ actions were reasonable under the circumstances, and whether any exceptions to warrant requirements apply. In Pearl River, local practice and judicial interpretations play a role in how suppression issues are adjudicated, so experienced representation is important to present these arguments effectively.