Depending on the strength of your charges, you may be facing a misdemeanor or felony for drug-related issues. The state of Florida has extremely strict regulations regarding both prescription and non-prescription substances, and if you are facing drug charges at this moment, you should consult with a Broward County drug lawyer. In English.
The severity of your sentence will depend on your prior convictions, the drug you are accused of possessing, and numerous other factors.
As an accused individual, hiring a Broward County criminal lawyer can increase the chances of your charges being reduced or dropped. Continue reading to learn more about the different types of drug charges and the impact they can have on your life.
What Factors Influences in Sentencing in a Drug Case?
Florida, like many other states, utilizes a drug schedule. This schedule ranks drugs according to their legality and medical purposes, and are matched with corresponding legal penalties. Schedule I drugs are drugs that have no federally accepted medical purpose, such as marijuana, cocaine, LSD, or crystal meth.
They are not legal and depending on the circumstances of the arrest, an individual could end up spending time behind bars if they are caught with one of these drugs. These drugs are the most serious, but people can also be punished for having legal drugs if they do not have a valid prescription from a physician.
Trafficking and Distribution
Drug trafficking and distribution are two of the most serious drug-related charges. Drug trafficking is the more serious of the two charges, and most of the time, an individual accused of this crime will be tried by the federal government.
Both trafficking and distribution involve large quantities of illegal substances, and the charges can be more severe if an individual is accused of engaging in these crimes within a certain distance of:
- Schools
- Public areas (ex: parks, government buildings, etc.)
- Residential areas
- Daycares
The charges will also be more serious if the person intended to traffic or distribute drugs across state lines. If they are convicted of either drug offense, they could end up facing years in prison. This is a terrifying prospect, but a qualified Broward County drug attorney may be able to get the charges reduced.
The prosecutor must prove that the person knowingly participated in the criminal action, but if their drug attorney in Broward County can prove that they intended to use the drugs themselves and did not intend to distribute or traffic, they could have their charges reduced.
Also, law enforcement agents are required by law to detain the individual and the drugs they have been accused of trafficking in a very specific manner. If the officer did not follow regulations and laws regarding arrest, the person could get their charges dropped.
What is the Severity of Possessing, Manufacturing, and Selling Drugs?
Other charges, such as the possession, manufacture, or sale of drugs can be just as serious as trafficking or distribution. Depending on existing criminal records, the judge could be faced with giving people a mandatory sentence.
These sentences are common in Florida, especially if the accused individual has been convicted of drug charges in the past. An individual should contact a drug attorney in Broward County to understand how to proceed with their charge.
Contact an Attorney
No matter what your drug charges may be, a Broward County drug lawyer can provide you with the guidance you need. A skilled attorney in Broward County is highly experienced in regards to drug-related issues, and will strive to get your charges reduced or dropped.
