DRE Case Law and Legal Issues in Illinois
This content delves into the case law and legal issues surrounding Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) in Illinois. It explores the admissibility of DRE testimony, the requirements for a Frye hearing, and the scientific validity of DRE testimony based on specialized training. Various court cases are discussed to understand the legal landscape surrounding DRE testimony in Illinois.
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Presentation Transcript
DRE CASE PREPARATION & DIRECT EXAMINATION
Objectives 1. IL DRE case law and legal issues 2. Discovery preparation 3. Trial preparation and direct examination tips
DRE Case Law and Legal Issues No specific DRE opinion in the IL Supreme Court nor any of the IL Appellate Courts No IL Statutes or any IL Administrative Code Regulations You might be asking what do we have then?
DRE Case Law and Legal Issues Cases in IL that indirectly support admissibility of DRE testimony: People v. Jacquith, 472 N.E.2d 107 (Ill. App. Ct. 1st Dist. 1984) People v. Shelton, 708 N.E.2d 815 (Ill. App. Ct. 5th Dist. 1999) People v. Workman, 726 N.E.2d 759 (Ill. App. Ct. 2d Dist. 2000) People v. Foltz, 934 N.E.2d 719 (Ill. App. Ct. 5th Dist. 2010) These cases stand for the principle that an officer can testify about whether a person is under the influence of drug(s) so long as they have the relevant skills, experience, or training to render such an opinion We should be good right? DRE s have the most rigorous training in law enforcement. Why would there be an issue of the admissibility of DRE testimony? Some issues prosecutors across the country are facing is whether DRE testimony is scientific or not subject to a Frye hearing, and whether a DRE can be called an expert in court
DRE Case Law and Legal Issues Should DRE testimony be subject to a Frye hearing? IL Rules of Evidence 702 Is the DRE testimony scientific? If no, it is not subject to a Frye hearing If yes, is it new and novel or is it generally accepted in the scientific community? Not subject to Frye if generally accepted Subject to Frye if new and novel
DRE Case Law and Legal Issues Scientific or Not Scientific? Statev. Klawitter, 518 N.W.2d 577 (Minn. 1994) United States v. Everett, 972 F.Supp. 1313 (D. Nev. 1997) State v. Layman, 953 P.2d 782 (Utah App. Ct. 1998) Williams v. State, 710 So.2d 24 (Fla. App. Ct. 3rd Dist. 1998) State v. Aleman, 194 P.3d 110 (N.M. App. Ct. 2008) These cases stand for the principle that a DRE s testimony is admissible from the specialized training they received under Rules of Evidence (IL Rules of Evidence 702) Is it generally accepted in the scientific community? State v. Sampson, 6 P.3d 543 (Or. App. Ct. 2000) State v. Baity, 991 P.2d 1151 (Wash. 2000) United States v. Everett, 972 F.Supp. 1313 (D. Nev. 1997)
DRE Case Law and Legal Issues Validation Studies E.V. Adler and M. Burns, Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Validation Study, Final Report to Governor s Office of Highway Safety, State of Arizona (1994) Richard P. Comptom, Field Evaluation of the Los Angeles Police Department Drug Detection Procedure, U.S. D.O.T. H.S. 807 102 (1986) D.F. Preusser, et. al., Evaluation of the Impact of the Drug Evaluation and Classification Program on Enforcement and Adjudication, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. D.O.T. H.S. 808 058 (1992)
DRE Case Law and Legal Issues Drug Recognition Expert or Drug Recognition Officer? Statev. Klawitter, 518 N.W.2d 577 (Minn. 1994) Williams v. State, 710 So.2d 24 (Fla. App. Ct. 3rd Dist. 1998) Is a incomplete 12-step DRE Protocol Admissible? State v. Aleman, 194 P.3d 110 (N.M. App. Ct. 2008) State v. Rambo, 279 P.3d 361 (Or. App. Ct. 2012) State v. Wilson, 337 P.3d 948 (Or. App. Ct. 2014)
Discovery Preparation Need to request the DRE supplemental report that contains the DRE s 12-step evaluation Need to request the DRE s curriculum vitae, the DRE s certification, the DRE s training manual, and any materials used by the DRE to reach their opinion Request to see if there were any videos or pictures taken by the DRE of the subject Send Expert letter to Defense counsel pursuant to local rules enclosed with your DRE s curriculum vitae, DRE certification, as well as any reports, correspondence, and written materials pertaining to their expert opinion
Trial Preparation Consider filing a motion in limine to admit the DRE as an expert and admit their testimony before trial Educate your Judge about DRE s and the DRE Protocol Eliminate any surprises at trial Meet with your DRE at least once before trial to go over the DRE s curriculum vitae, all written materials prepared by the DRE, and to go over questions you prepared for the DRE Make sure you also prepare with any other witnesses before trial: the arresting officer, any civilian witnesses, phlebotomist, and the ISP Forensic Scientist who tested the blood/urine for drugs Make sure you have all evidence for trial Make sure blood/urine was picked up from the ISP lab for trial
DRE Direct Examination Tips Examples of DRE predicate questions http://www.ndaa.org/pdf/drug_evaluation_classifi cation_dec.pdf http://www.tdcaa.com/sites/default/files/page/15 %20SFST%20&%20DRE%20Experts.pdf
DRE Direct Examination Tips Background, Training and Experience Police Academy SFST Training Breathalyzer Operator Training (get into later during the 12-steps) ARIDE Training DRE Course/Certification Narcotics Training Specialized Conferences Published articles or any classes taught by DRE Testimony about how many total DUI arrests and DUID arrests
DRE Direct Examination Tips Testimony about what the DECP is and its purpose Testimony about what a DRE is and what the DRE certification entails Testimony about the DRE school and the application process to become a DRE Testimony about the DRE field school, rolling logs, continuing certification process
DRE Direct Examination Tips Testimony about the 7 drug categories and the matrix Testimony about the Drug Influence Evaluations and the number of evaluations made by the DRE Testimony about the DRE 12-step Protocol going through each of the 12-steps and then going through the DRE s 12-step evaluation of the Defendant
Questions? Email: ajgeocaris@co.mchenry.il.us Phone #: (815)334-4858
