Any type of drug crime conviction can have a negative impact on your life. This is why you need to understand your charges, your legal rights, and the type of defense strategy that can help you avoid the most serious punishment.
Some of the many drug possession defense strategies to consider include:
— Unlawful search and seizure. If an officer finds drugs in plain view, such as on the seat of a car during a traffic stop, they can seize the substance and use it as evidence. However, he or she does not have the right to enter a car’s trunk in search of drugs (without the suspect’s permission).
— The drugs belong to another person. One of the most common defense strategies, this is a claim that the drugs belong to somebody else. An example of this would be if you live with a roommate and had no idea that the person was keeping drugs in the property.
— Drugs were planted. This is not always easy to prove, but there are times when it’s possible to show that the drugs were planted in an attempt to get a person in trouble with the law.
The type of defense strategy you employ depends on a variety of factors, including the finer details of your arrest. As you can imagine, one drug possession arrest is not the same as the next.
Some of the many questions to discuss with your attorney include:
— What type of defense strategy makes most sense based on the details of the case?
— Is there anything you need from me to better understand the case?
— What is the potential punishment if convicted of the crime?
Since you are sure to have a lot going through your mind after a drug possession arrest, it’s always a good idea to immediately consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney.
You don’t want to tackle the legal system on your own, as there are many details that you are unfamiliar with. By speaking with an attorney, you can get a better feel for what’s to come, how to defend yourself, and the steps you can take to put this trouble in the past once and for all.
