🧪 If the State Can't Prove the Drugs Were Handled Properly, You May Win
If you’re facing drug charges, one of the most effective defense strategies is to challenge chain of custody in a Florida drug case — especially when the evidence has been mishandled, mislabeled, or logged improperly.
That’s where chain of custody comes in. If law enforcement or crime labs mishandle, mislabel, or improperly store evidence — your attorney may be able to get the evidence thrown out.
At Michael White, P.A., we regularly challenge drug cases by exposing weaknesses in how the State collects, stores, and presents physical evidence.
📦 What Is Chain of Custody?
Chain of custody is the documented timeline that shows how a piece of evidence moved from:
The scene of the arrest
To the officer’s control
To the evidence locker
To the crime lab for testing
And finally, into the courtroom
Every transfer must be clearly documented to prove that the evidence wasn’t tampered with, mixed up, or contaminated.
🧯 When Chain of Custody Breaks Down
In Florida, even a small gap in the chain can be grounds to challenge the evidence. Common issues include:
Unlabeled or mislabeled drug packaging
Missing timestamps or signatures
Lack of secure storage (evidence not logged properly)
Crime lab contamination
Police testifying without personal knowledge of the evidence handling
🚫 If the State can’t prove who handled the drugs at every step, it raises reasonable doubt — and may result in suppressed evidence or dismissal.
⚖️ Legal Standards for Chain of Custody in Florida
Florida courts require the prosecution to show a reasonable probability that the evidence:
Is what it purports to be
Was not altered, swapped, or contaminated
Was stored and transported in a way that preserves its integrity
They don’t have to prove an airtight chain — but if your defense attorney can raise a serious question, the judge or jury may reject the evidence.
🛠️ How We Challenge Chain of Custody in Drug Cases
As your defense attorney, I’ll:
Subpoena evidence logs, lab reports, and officer reports
Cross-examine every person who handled the evidence
Compare arresting officer reports with lab intake documents
Look for gaps, inconsistencies, or broken seals
File a motion to suppress evidence based on tainted or mishandled custody
As your defense attorney, I’ll examine every detail of how the evidence was handled and look for flaws that allow us to challenge chain of custody in your Florida drug case.
✅ When we expose flaws in the chain, prosecutors often can’t move forward.
📉 What Happens If Drug Evidence Is Thrown Out?
Without the physical evidence, the prosecution may have:
No lab-confirmed drugs
No basis for proving the charges
No leverage for a plea
In many cases, the State will dismiss or reduce the charges — especially if they relied on test results or substance weight to file felony charges.
📞 Facing Drug Charges in Florida? Let's Examine the Evidence.
At Michael White, P.A., we don’t take the State’s word for it.
We trace every step of the evidence handling — and when we find errors, we file to suppress the drugs and protect your rights.
👉 Call now for a free consultation to see if a chain of custody issue could change your case.
🙋♂️ Frequently Asked Questions About Chain of Custody in Drug Cases
❓ What is chain of custody in a drug case?
It’s the process of documenting every person who handled the drug evidence from arrest to trial. It ensures the evidence is the same and hasn’t been tampered with.
❓ Can drug charges be dropped if the chain of custody is broken?
Yes. If your attorney proves the State can’t show a clean chain of custody, the judge may suppress the evidence — which often leads to dismissal.
❓ What kind of evidence problems count?
Anything from missing signatures to improperly sealed packaging, storage errors, or inconsistencies between reports can create reasonable doubt.
❓ Who has to prove chain of custody?
The prosecution must show a reasonable probability that the evidence is intact and authentic. Your attorney can challenge that through cross-examination and motions.
❓ Does chain of custody apply to prescription pills or only illegal drugs?
It applies to all controlled substances, including prescription pills, marijuana, cocaine, fentanyl, and synthetic drugs.
📦 If the State can’t prove the drugs were handled properly, the case may fall apart.
You only get one shot to challenge chain of custody in a Florida drug case — and when the State can’t prove proper handling, that could mean dismissal
Call Michael White, P.A. today and let’s investigate how the evidence in your case was really handled.