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Drug Charges
The “War on Drugs” has taken a devastating toll on many individuals, communities, and families across our nation.
Our prisons are bursting at the seams with non-violent people who may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, or who suffer from addiction, a recognized health condition. One cause of this tragedy is minimum-mandatory sentencing. Drug charges can include simple possession of drugs up to drug trafficking charges which carry minimum mandatory sentences.
Under mandatory sentencing laws, the judge’s hands are tied, and the court is forced to send someone to prison after a conviction for a minimum period of time. The amount of time is specified by law and can vary somewhat based on the facts of a case and a person’s criminal record. Sometimes a person can fall into this category over just a few pills, even with no criminal history. Even if one can avoid time behind bars, drug convictions cause the lifelong label of “convicted felon,” or the loss of driving privileges. These consequences can severely harm your ability to earn a living, or lawfully own firearms to protect yourself.
Even simple drug possession cases can have lasting effects on a person’s life. They generally include mandatory driver’s license suspensions and can affect a person’s ability to find work.
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been charged with a drug crime.
However, drug cases often look stronger for the government than they really are. The prosecution frequently relies on informants or “snitches,” who have either disappeared or have little credibility. Constitutional violations are also common, and a seasoned criminal trial attorney knows where to look for these issues.
Evidence can be “suppressed,” or thrown out, if law enforcement obtained it by violating your constitutional rights. Often, these constitutional violations can be difficult to spot. Finding them requires a thorough investigation of the case, and willingness to learn and apply the current constitutional law. When your future is on the line, you want an attorney in your corner willing to do that work.