Drug Possession is a Serious Charge That Requires a Good Defense Attorney

Depending upon the amount of drugs found on your person, in your car or on your property, you could be in for some serious punishments if you are convicted on drug possession charges. Even a small amount of illegal or illicit drugs could result in heavy fines, probation or a prison term. In order to fight a drug possession charge as effectively as possible, you need an appropriately structured defense, and the best way to get that is with the help of an experienced defense attorney.

A clever and experienced defense attorney will most often begin a drug possession case by calling the actual possession of the drug into question. If there were other people with you when you were stopped, if you were in a car belonging to another person or if there were others in your home when the illegal drugs were found, then there is a chance that the drugs found on the scene may not even be yours. If the prosecutor cannot clearly prove that the drugs that were found belong to you, there is a very good chance that your charges could be reduced or dismissed.

A good defense attorney will also examine the information available to determine if the arresting officer obtained the evidence in a legal manner. Police must follow strict procedures when searching for illegal substances during an arrest so that they don’t violate the accused’s Fifth Amendment Constitutional rights. The law takes search and seizure rights very seriously, and if your search and seizure rights were violated, your charges can be dismissed. Attorneys with experience in drug cases will also have a thorough knowledge of search and seizure rights, and your defense lawyer can prove if your rights have been violated. If a law enforcement official did not clearly follow all procedures and adhere strictly to the law in his or her search and investigation, there is a chance that some or all of the evidence obtained will not be admissible which could have a seriously negative impact on the case for the prosecution.

If you’ve been charged with drug possession, no matter whether you are facing misdemeanor or felony drug possession charges, it is critical that you reach out to a qualified defense attorney that has experience in drug related charges within the jurisdiction that you were arrested in. You also shouldn’t wait to contact an attorney because they can help you from the very beginning of your case by advising you on how to speak with the police during their investigation of your drug charges.