You’ve been arrested and charged with drug possession in Essex County, NJ. Do you need a lawyer? While you might think that you are facing a relatively minor charge, the reality is that any drug conviction can have significant consequences in New Jersey, and you need to be prepared to defend yourself by all means available.
Here are three reasons why you need a lawyer if you have been charged with drug possession in Essex County:
Reason #1: You are Facing Jail Time
In New Jersey, the lowest-level drug possession charge possible is possession of 50 grams or less of marijuana. This is classified as a disorderly persons offense, and it carries penalties of up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.
If you have been charged with a more-serious possession crime, the penalties you are facing could be far more substantial. For example, if you have been charged with possession with intent to sell, you could be facing a fine of anywhere from $10,000 to $500,000 and a prison sentence of anywhere from 18 months to 10 years (or more) depending on the drug and quantity involved.
Reason #2: You Might Be Eligible for a Diversionary Program
The New Jersey Courts have established three diversionary programs that provide the opportunity to avoid a conviction by agreeing to (and complying with) terms similar to being on probation. These programs are available to many first-time drug offenders, and the conditional discharge program is specifically for individuals who have been charged with marijuana possession and other lower-level drug crimes.
Of course, entering into a diversionary program is not your only option for avoiding a conviction. There are many potential defenses to drug possession charges, and an Essex County drug lawyer may be able to help you avoid a conviction by fighting your charge rather than agreeing to participate in a diversionary program.
Reason #3: You Need to Make Smart Decisions
Deciding whether to enter into a diversionary program (if you are eligible) is not the only decision you need to make. When facing a drug possession charge in Essex County, there are many other critical decisions you need to make as well. For example, should you consider a plea bargain? Should you request a jury trial? What defenses will you put forward, and will you testify at trial?
These are all questions that can have a direct impact on the outcome of your drug possession case. You cannot afford to take them lightly. You need to rely on the advice of an experienced defense lawyer, and you need to make sure that you are making the right decisions with your (and your family’s) best interests in mind.
Talk to Essex County Drug Lawyer Scott Gorman about Your Drug Possession Case
Charged with drug possession in Essex County? You need an experienced defense lawyer on your side. To discuss your case with Essex County drug lawyer Scott Gorman in confidence, call 201-489-9199 or request a free consultation online now.
Published in Categories: Drug Posession
