With the world’s changing views on drug-related crimes and various countries reacting differently on the possession of marijuana and involvement in drug accusations, the NJ drug charges still call for strict penalties. Visit njcriminaldefensellc.com if you need help with drug charges in NJ.
Even if the charge is against an individual with no past criminal records on drug charges, the penalties can be severe, and the convict is treated strictly by the court. In case one is involved in such an unprecedented situation, one should immediately seek help from a New Jersey attorney who has experience dealing with cases on drug charges.
Court Penalties For First-Time Drug Charges:
Several factors influence court penalties. These factors include the nature of the drug in your possession and the amount found. If it’s a large amount, it will invite further police accusations encompassing the convict’s possibility of being a dealer or a distributor.
The New Jersey court imposes harsh penalties on the possession of drugs other than marijuana, including LSD, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, and many more. Any individual possessing these drugs would be subject to five years of imprisonment and a fine of $35,000.
Additional Penalties:
The court might also suspend the convict’s driving license and seize the vehicle. Moreover, if a certain drug is found in large amounts, the New Jersey police would find it as evidence of the individual’s intention of distributing it. This might give way to severe penalties and longer imprisonment.
However, no such rules or laws exist that the court will act easier on convicts possessing drug charges. There might be a chance, but there exists no guarantee. The New Jersey court could sentence you to jail even if your previous criminal records are clean.
However, the drug offender can resort to some options that might save them from strict penalties and an elongated court trial. These include:
Conditional Discharge:
This option allows the defendant to avoid the conclusion of their names in the permanent record of a drug conviction by serving probation, accepting some other conditions given by the court, and pleading guilty. The case is declared dismissed after the defendant meets all these conditions.
Pretrial Intervention:
This is a rehabilitation program that is developed to offer assistance to drug addicts for any first-time drug cases.
Drug Court:
This is also a rehabilitation program where they are made to enroll in treatment, but unlike in both previous cases, the offense will be recorded permanently here.