As part of the New York City metro area, Long Island is home to a tremendous number of people – more than 7.6 million, to be more precise. That large concentration of people means that there is a steady number of people who find themselves charged with drug possession each year. Throughout history, New York possession laws have been among the harshest in the nation, and understanding more about them after you’re charged is important.
There are plenty of things you’ll want to keep in mind, but three things stand out as being among the most important. Here are some of the key things you’ll want to understand.
- Not all drugs are the same. Each drug is classified differently, whether it’s marijuana, heroin, or legal prescription drugs. The charges and the penalties are different for each one, and the specifics of your case will obviously have a major impact on the results of your case. Additionally, the amount of the drug that you possess will influence things as well. For example, possession of under 25mg of Ecstasy is considered a misdemeanor and could bring up to one year in jail. Possessing 5 to 25 grams, however, is a Class B felony and could lead to as much as 9 years in jail.
- Possession can be broadly applied. It’s a mistake to assume that just because the drugs are in someone else’s pocket that you can’t be charged. Under New York law, everyone inside a car or a room where drugs are found could be charged with possession. This is because it’s assumed that all who are present will be aware of the presences of the drugs, and thus could be charged with possession. While a good lawyer can often work to reduce charges if you don’t actually have the drugs on your person, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be charged or punished.
- A good lawyer is a must. It’s easy to assume that the best thing for you to do is simply to plead guilty and take whatever punishment the court decides on, but the reality is that a good attorney could help you in numerous ways. While they may even suggest that you plead out, no two cases are the same and sometimes they could be bale to defend you from charges that you were about to plead guilty to. No matter what, the key to getting the best results from your trial is to find the best attorney you can and get the kind of representation that you deserve.
The three points above can help you understand what you’re facing, what to expect, and why it’s so important that you find a good lawyer as soon as you can after you’ve been charged with possession. It’s a serious offense, but there are ways to help yourself.