Drug crimes are often felony charges, depending on how much drugs the person is found with. This means a person is facing quite a bit of time in jail. If a person has never been arrested before and they are arrested for a drug crime, it’s going to be imperative for them to contact an attorney as quickly as possible after their arrest. In many cases, the attorney will be able to help the person avoid jail time.
Did Not Know About the Drugs
For a person to be convicted of drug possession, the person would have needed to know the drugs were there and would have needed to know they were illegal. If the person had no knowledge of the drugs, perhaps because they were brought secretly by another person into the home or vehicle, the person might avoid a conviction with the help of their attorney.
Proper Procedures Were Not Followed During the Arrest or After
The police must follow certain procedures to stop a person, search them, and arrest them. From there, evidence needs to be handled properly to be admissible in court. If there is a mistake made anywhere during this process, the attorney may be able to have the evidence dismissed. Without sufficient evidence, the person won’t be convicted of the crime they’re charged with.
Adjudication Withheld Following Proper Treatment
If neither of the above applies to a person’s case and they are found guilty, the attorney might be able to help them have their conviction withheld so long as they go through a treatment program. This means they will have a conviction if they do not complete the treatment program. If they do complete the treatment as defined by the judge, the conviction can be erased from their record. This is often in lieu of jail time, so the person can avoid jail and choose substance abuse treatment instead.
If you’ve been arrested and charged with any drug crime, felony or misdemeanor, this is not something you want on your criminal record and you will want to avoid jail time. Take the time to contact a lawyer as quickly as possible after your arrest so they can help you form a defense that works. We are a criminal law firm in Houston and can help you avoid a criminal history and jail time, depending on your case.
