Drug charges can severely affect your reputation, career, and family. Whether you’re facing a misdemeanor possession of marijuana or something more severe like drug trafficking, a criminal defense attorney can protect your rights. A skilled drug crime lawyer can fight to reduce the charges against you and get your case dismissed.
Experience
A person facing drug charges, possession, trafficking, or manufacturing, can face severe penalties if convicted. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible is essential. A skilled Philadelphia drug charge defense attorney can help you build a strong case by examining all the evidence gathered by law enforcement, looking at the legal issues that may apply, and negotiating with the prosecutor. They can also provide invaluable advice and assistance during this stressful time. An attorney experienced in defending people charged with drugs has built relationships with prosecutors and judges. They can use these relationships to their client’s advantage in plea bargain negotiations. They also know how to present a solid case to the jury if the accused decides to take it to trial. This can significantly impact the outcome of the case.
Knowledge of the Law
Since the United States government declared a War on Drugs, law enforcement and prosecutors have aggressively fought drug-related crimes. A conviction for any drug offense can impact your life in many ways, including fines, prison time, losing your job, and the ability to continue living with family members or friends and losing government-provided benefits. A skilled drug charge defense attorney at Camili & Capo, PA, knows what elements of a case to look for when challenging the evidence presented by the prosecution. They will be able to challenge the credibility of a witness through cross-examination, and they will know which witnesses are more likely to lie under oath in an attempt to save themselves from prosecution.
Additionally, they will deeply understand the complex laws related to drug charges and how those laws could affect your case. For example, they will understand the procedures that must be followed when conducting a search warrant, which can open up opportunities for them to call into question any searches of your property.
Expertise in the Court System
If you are charged with drug offenses, you need a skilled attorney to help you defend yourself. A reasonable drug crimes attorney will have worked on several cases that may be similar to yours and knows what defense strategies work best in this type of case. For example, they will know that if police officers did not follow protocol during the search and seizure of their property, this could be used to their advantage in court by pointing out that their actions were illegal. A drug charge defense attorney will also have a working knowledge of the local court system and the prosecutor’s office, which could be beneficial if you negotiate with the prosecution. They can develop positive relationships with prosecutors, leading to reduced charges or even dismissal altogether. This is because prosecutors tend to take more seriously attorneys who are well-established and who they feel comfortable dealing with.
Knowledge of the Prosecution
Defending against criminal allegations of selling, trafficking, or conspiring to sell or traffic cocaine, marijuana, GHB, or other legend and designer drugs can present unique and special challenges. A skilled defense attorney knows the prosecution’s tactics and strategies in these cases. For example, if a person is charged with possessing a controlled substance and the drug is found along with scales, packaging materials, pay/owe sheets or other evidence of sales, the prosecution will almost always charge “possession for sale.” An experienced defense lawyer can argue that the person only possessed the drug for personal use or that they were legally in possession of the drug because they met the qualifications of having a valid medical prescription. A skilled defense attorney can also expose weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, such as improper chemical analysis of the drug. They can also challenge the law enforcement officers involved in your arrest by examining their conduct and practices.
