A drug can be defined as a biological agent that can be used for medical or dietary purposes, however, many illegal narcotics, such as LSD and methamphetamine, have little to no medical value, which is one of the reasons they're classified as controlled substances. The federal government has drug guidelines that classify drugs into different schedules or categories based on their medical benefit and addictive qualities. People convicted of a Schedule I drug crime are likely to receive harsher punishments that those arrested for a Schedule V drug offense. However, all drug crimes are taken very seriously by both prosecutors and the courts, and a person who is convicted of such a crime can face penalties that they will live with for the rest of their lives.
There are many types of drug crimes, however, in New York, the most common crimes seen by law enforcement officials are drug selling, drug possession, drug trafficking and drug manufacturing. Drug possession means that a person has some amount of drugs on their person, in their home or in their vehicle. Being charged solely with possession usually means that the person has an amount for personal use. If a person possesses a larger quantity of drugs, they may be charged with possession with intent to sell, which is a much more serious crime. Drug manufacturing implies that the accused party is actively making drugs either for personal use or for sale.
A person can face a variety of punishments for drug-related crimes and prosecutors will take into account the amount of drugs involved, whether the person has a criminal history with drug-related crimes, whether any weapons were used in the crimes and if the drugs were sold to and/or near minors. Serious drug offenses can land a person in prison for many years, cause forfeiture of their assets and may put a black mark on their permanent criminal record. Once released from prison, a person may also be placed on probation. Because these punishments can be so life-altering, it's important to have an experienced Staten Island Drug Crime Lawyer to defend you against the charges. At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC, our New York Criminal lawyers aggressively defend clients accused of committing drug-related crimes. Our Drug Crime lawyers work closely with prosecutors in attempting to get charges and/or sentences reduced or dropped. In addition, our lawyers also closely examine evidence and how the evidence was gathered in a particular drug charge. If it's found that a person's Fourth Amendment rights have been violated, some evidence may be thrown out.
As mentioned, punishments for drug-related crimes will largely depend on the nature of the crime and whether the accused has a criminal record in regards to drug crimes. However, it is common for a person charged with a drug crime to face time in prison, drug seizure or forfeiture of assets, fines, probation and/or court-ordered ordered drug rehabilitation programs.
Because these punishments have such an impact on a person's life, it's important to speak to our Staten Island Drug Crime Lawyer team as soon as possible after being arrested for a drug crime.
Because of the government's War on Drugs, drug crimes are taken very seriously by police and prosecutors. Although public opinion is swaying when it comes to legalizing certain drugs, such as marijuana, the fact remains that many people are still being arrested and sent to jail for what seem to be harmless recreational drug use. It's also not uncommon for people to be arrested and charged with a drug crime if they happen to give some of their prescription medication to friends or family. Most prescription medicines are deemed to be controlled substances and it is illegal to possess or distribute a prescription drug if you don't have the authorization from a medical professional. In some cases, the possession of a controlled substance can result in federal charges.
It's beneficial to get the help of our experienced Staten Island Drug Crime Lawyer staff should you ever be arrested and charged with a drug crime. At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC, our Criminal defense lawyers work with clients who are facing drug charges.
In addition to drug possession, and drug manufacturing, a person may be charged with possessing drug paraphernalia. Drug paraphernalia can often describe items such as bongs, rolling paper, scales, chemicals, roach clips, pipes and other items used for making or using drugs. It is up to the prosecutor to prove that these items are being used for the purpose of illegal narcotics and a good defense lawyer may be able to raise reasonable doubt for their clients.
If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with a drug-related crime, it's vital to your future that you consult with our Staten Island Drug Crime Lawyer team as soon as possible. Please call Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC at 800.696.9529 or contact one of our New York City offices serving Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx or Brooklyn, or in Westchester County or one of our Long Island offices in Nassau County or Suffolk County.