The war on drugs has raged for decades, and while certain states have legalized marijuana, New York isn’t one of them. All recreational drugs are illegal here, and the state actually has some of the most severe penalties for drug offenders in the entire state. If you’re a Long Island resident who has been charged with drug related offenses, it’s a good idea to understand more about the charges.
Before you continue, it is important to understand that no two cases are identical. A few basic elements can help you get a better idea as to what to expect in terms of potential outcomes, but until you speak to an attorney you can only get a vague, general idea as to what might come as a result of your charge. It’s still worth doing, however.
First, realize that there are numerous types of criminal charges you might face. These include:
- Simple possession
- Drug trafficking
- Possession with intent to distribute
- And more
Simple possession will often come with much smaller offenses than drug trafficking, which is considered a federal crime. And some drugs are treated more harshly than others, too. As a result, the potential sentence you might face will vary widely based upon exactly what you have been charged with. Your attorney will tell you the specifics of your particular case.
Fines can range from probation and a small fine to more than 20 years in prison, depending on things like criminal history, nature of the charge, type of drug, and more. Along with this, a conviction will go onto your criminal history for years and could impede your ability to land a job, secure a home loan, and much more. Today, more and more employers and organizations use a criminal background check to find out more about applicants and as a result, your drug conviction could haunt you for years.
Another thing to keep in mind is that taking the advice of anyone who isn’t a trained attorney is a bad idea. Plenty of people think that they understand the law, and they might mean well, but there are far more misconceptions out there than there are accuracies. In other words, you shouldn’t trust anyone other than a good criminal defense lawyer to help you with your case.
We can be your ally when you’re facing drug charges of any kind. Our team has years of legal experience and could be just what you need to defend yourself in the court of law. Contact us today to set up a consultation visit.