A drug possession charge is extremely serious, as this can impact your life in many ways. For example, if convicted, you could owe a large fine or be sentenced to prison. Along with this, it may make it difficult to keep your job, depending on your career.
With so much to lose, you need to take immediate action following a drug possession charge. This starts with understanding the circumstances surrounding your arrest.
From there, you should learn more about the drug possession defense strategy that will put you in the best position to avoid a conviction. Some of the many defense strategies to consider include:
- Arguing that the drugs belong to someone else. You may be able to prove that you were not the owner of the drugs, such as if somebody else brought them into your home.
- Unlawful search and seizure. If your Fourth Amendment rights were violated, you may be able to have your charges dismissed by the court.
- Crime lab analysis. Just because a drug looks illegal does not mean it actually is. It’s possible that a crime lab analyst can prove that a drug is not what it appears to be.
- Planted drugs. This is not easy to prove, but there are times when this is the best drug possession defense strategy.
- Entrapment. Law enforcement officials have the right to set up sting operations, but there is only so much they can do. Entrapment is when an officer induces a person to commit a crime that they would have otherwise not committed.
With so many potential defense strategies, it’s imperative to learn more about your arrest, the charges, and which one will give you the best chance of avoiding a conviction.
On the surface, a drug possession charge does not appear as serious as some others, but this is not always the case. Depending on the type and amount of drug, there’s a chance that a conviction could lead to prison time. This is why the right defense strategy is of utmost importance. It could be the difference between avoiding prison time and having your life altered forever.
