Drug trafficking charges are serious and carry severe penalties. Defendants can face expensive fines or long prison sentences if convicted. If law enforcement uses entrapment to induce someone to commit a crime, it can be used as a defense in criminal law.
What is entrapment?
Entrapment is a legal defense in criminal law where the defendant argues that law enforcement coerces them to commit a crime. Without that influence, they would not have committed the crime. The defendant claims that the officer went beyond providing an opportunity to commit the crime. Law enforcement uses coercion or pressure to influence criminal behavior.
Proving entrapment
To prove entrapment in Minnesota, the defense must demonstrate two key elements:
- Inducement by law enforcement: The defendant must show that law enforcement persuaded, harassed, or threatened them to commit the crime.
- Lack of predisposition: The defendant must prove that they were not predisposed to commit the crime. A defendant’s lack of prior criminal experience can help prove they were not predisposed to commit the crime.
The defendant bears the burden of proving entrapment. To successfully argue entrapment, you must show that law enforcement induced the crime. Successfully proving entrapment can lead to the dismissal of charges. This highlights the need for a strong legal strategy.
Examples of entrapment in drug trafficking
In a drug trafficking case, law enforcement might coerce someone to sell drugs. You can argue entrapment if the person initially refuses but eventually agrees due to the officer’s influence. This asserts that the defendant would not have engaged in drug trafficking without the officer’s influence.
Entrapment can be a viable defense. If proven, it may significantly impact the outcome of a drug trafficking case.
