What Happens In A Drug Crime Conviction in Philadelphia?
In Philadelphia, as in the rest of Pennsylvania, drug-related crime is severely punished and the accused has to face serious potential consequences. Possible outcomes include probation, jail, and massive fines. If a person is convicted of driving under the influence of drugs, then their driver’s license will be put in jeopardy, which might affect their personal life and their job.
If you have been accused of a drug-related offense in Philadelphia, seek help from a capable Philadelphia drug crime lawyer, who will fight tirelessly for your rights and who is also aware of the risks involved in drug-related cases. Seeking advice from a lawyer who will aggressively represent your interests is a good idea. An experienced lawyer will help you defend or mitigate the criminal charges which might spoil your life.
If you have been arrested for a drug crime, then consulting an attorney with expertise in handling drug-related matters will even the odds against you. An experienced criminal defense lawyer knows how the prosecution prepares and handles drug-related criminal cases.
All drug crimes, ranging from possession of marijuana to major drug sales or charges related to trafficking expose the accused to severe criminal penalties. A lawyer will represent you aggressively in court for different drug crimes, such as drug possession, drug trafficking, distribution of drugs, manufacturing of drugs, drug cultivation, and crimes involving drugs where weapons are used. An experienced Philadelphia drug possession lawyer will defend your rights, discover weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, and will also work to maintain your freedom.
A qualified attorney will analyze every aspect of the case, help determine any violation of constitutional rights and determine whether evidence is admissible or not. One of the fundamental goals of a lawyer is to win the client total freedom from those consequences which follow after charges related to drugs are filed.
Penalties for drug possession offenses in Philadelphia
- Heroin: If a person possesses up to 5 grams of heroin, then he or she could be sentenced to 2 years prison time. If a person has 50 grams of heroin or more, then the potential sentence could be 5 years in prison.
- Cocaine: If a person possesses less than 10 grams of cocaine, then he or she could be sentenced to a maximum of 1 year in jail. If a person has 100 grams of cocaine or more, then the potential sentence is up to 4 years in prison.
- Marijuana: If a person possesses 30 grams of marijuana, the matter is regarded as a misdemeanor and the sentence is usually not more than 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. If a person has more than 30 grams of marijuana, the sentence could be a year in jail, and a fine of $5,000.
- Methamphetamine: If a person possesses less than 10 grams of methamphetamine, then he or she could be sentenced to 3 years in prison. If a person possesses 100 grams or more of methamphetamine then the sentence could be 5 years in prison.
If you are facing sentencing and punishment for a drug-related crime you should consult an experienced Philadelphia drug crime lawyer.
Many drug charges in Philadelphia are the result of searches, seizures, or traffic stops. It is important to consult an experienced drug crime lawyer in Philadelphia after being accused of a drug crime. A good lawyer will scrutinize all essential details starting from the first interaction with the police through to the arrest and charges, and will challenge any mistake or impropriety by the officer conducting any kind of search or arrest, and will ensure the rules regarding searches and suspect rights are followed.
If you have been accused of drug possession, a vigorous lawyer will fight to reduce or eliminate the charges against you. In some cases, a lawyer can help you receive a reduced sentence, probation, substance abuse treatment, or some other form of alternative sentence. An experienced drug possession lawyer will provide a vigorous and strong defense in all drug cases by examining every detail of the case and by raising every legitimate defense.
What Is the Difference Between Actual and Constructive Drug Possession
If you are convicted of a drug possession crime, it will have far-reaching implications that will affect your life. Because of the severity of the penalties, you should be aware of the distinction between actual and constructive possession. You can be convicted of an offense even if you didn’t have any drugs, because of the doctrine of constructive possession.
Actual possession refers to having one or more different types of drugs such as marijuana, heroin, cocaine physically on your person. Constructive possession refers to having knowledge of the illegal drugs and having the capability to gain or maintain control over those drugs even if you don’t actually have them when you are arrested.
For example, if drugs are found in a car in which you are a passenger, even though you do not own the vehicle, you can still be charged with the illegal possession of drugs.
On the other hand, if drugs are found in some hidden location in a house or car and the occupants are not aware of the drugs, this fact might help defend against a charge of constructive possession of the drugs.
If you are in a dilemma because of an accusation of constructive possession of illegal drugs, then you should consult a legal professional who can guide you. If you are facing drug charges it is essential to remember that even if you are found near the drugs, that does not prove the point that they were yours.
How Can A Philadelphia Drug Crime Lawyer Help if I’m Charged With a Drug Offense?
A lawyer can help at each stage of the criminal process, beginning when the police question you and make allegations against you. An attorney will support you and will work to keep any drug charges from clouding your record. A good lawyer will seek to minimize the effect that a drug charge will have on your life.
Call us today if you want your case to be defended by experienced, determined lawyers who will help you in both negotiating outside the court and in aggressively fighting for your rights.