Any drug-related offense can alter your life for the worse, especially if you’re found in possession of illegal narcotics. You could be convicted and fulfill a lengthy prison sentence or be forced to pay a hefty fine. If you ever find yourself in this predicament, you need to understand how to get drug possession charges dropped immediately.
Secondly, you should hire a reliable drug crime lawyer in Columbia from a reputable law firm like Strom Law. Drug-related cases are complex and high-stakes, especially if you don’t have a qualified and experienced attorney to guide and represent you.
Why You Should Hire a Drug Criminal Defense Attorney
There are many reasons why you need a drug crime defense attorney when you’re facing drug possession charges in Columbia, South Carolina. Many people who have been arrested on drug-related charges in Columbia have successfully fought the charges with the assistance of qualified attorneys. Even if you feel like the evidence presented against you isn’t strong enough to send you to jail, the guidance of an experienced lawyer will help you successfully maneuver the court system and emerge victorious.
Why You Should Not Represent Yourself in Court
Choosing to go it alone puts the entire case in jeopardy because you’re not a legal expert with knowledge of how the court system works. It only takes a single mistake to convince the jury and judge that you deserve jail time. An experienced drug crime defense attorney will help you avoid these sentences. They can interpret the law for you and advise you on what to do and say in court without incriminating yourself.
What Drug Crime Attorneys Can Do for You
When you know you have an attorney who specializes in drug criminal defense cases, they’ll do everything they can to get your drug charges dropped or your sentence reduced. Furthermore, your attorney will explain to you the entire court process and other important issues that may arise during the case. You won’t walk into the courtroom alone and you will know what to expect.
They’ll help you understand what your drug charges portend for you and the kind of trial process to expect. It’s normal to have numerous questions and concerns about your drug charges, especially if you’re a first-time offender. It’s critical to know how the case will affect your family, career, future personal freedoms, and more. An experienced lawyer will answer these questions satisfactorily and put you at ease.
What Are Your Options Regarding Your Charges?
Before you appear in court to answer charges of drug possession, your defense attorney will sit down with you to discuss the case and answer all the questions you may have about the charges. Your lawyer will also advise you on the most effective defense options available and how to use them effectively to get the charges dropped.
For example, your attorney may advise you to enter a plea deal with the District Attorney (DA) if they believe the evidence available incriminates you. In most drug possession cases, a plea deal involves requiring the accused to go through the drug diversion program, which offers various drug treatment courses to rehabilitate addicts. This program is mainly reserved for first-offenders facing simple or small-scale drug charges.
A plea deal may be offered to you if the DA believes you have useful information or any other assistance that you can offer their department to combat crimes related to drugs in Columbia, South Carolina. Your lawyer may advise you to accept the deal in exchange for your cooperation with a drug enforcement agency. For this, your drug charges may be dropped or your sentence may be suspended or shortened.
You need to hire a drug crime defense attorney if you know you’re innocent. Don’t assume that a simple clarification to the court will get you off the hook. You’ll need to gather and present sufficient evidence to prove your innocence–this is where a skilled lawyer comes in handy, because they understand the court system and the kind of evidence you need to convince the judge and jury that you’re innocent.
A drug criminal defense lawyer should explain to you your rights and help you to prove to the court how they may have been violated. In instances where drug enforcement officers did not follow appropriate protocol, you may have a case for your defense. Some examples include arresting officers not reading you your Mirande rights and searching your home or car without a warrant. If you can prove that your rights were violated during the arrest, you can easily convince the court to drop your charges.
Final Thoughts
Your drug criminal defense lawyer in Columbia will help you to gather enough evidence and present it in court in a way that helps to prove your innocence. They’ll look for errors that the DEA officers may have committed when arresting you to discredit their charges–talk to Strom Law today for more information.
