South Jersey Drug Charge Defense Lawyer
Veteran Criminal Defense Attorney Fights to Protect Clients’ Rights in Cases Involving Drug Charges in Camden County, Burlington County and Throughout New Jersey
A conviction for any drug charge has the potential to ruin your life. Additionally, building a strong and effective defense against drug charges is more difficult than most people think. As soon as you are arrested, police may begin to pressure you into making a statement that may be against your best interests. Unknowingly, when you make statements to law enforcement or the prosecution without the advice of legal counsel, you may begin to build a case against yourself and increase the risk that more serious penalties will apply, including the loss of state and federal benefits. Financial aid, food assistance programs, renter’s assistance and other programs can become unavailable if you are convicted of certain drug charges. Because of these significant risks, it is important that you contact a qualified Cherry Hill drug crimes defense lawyer as soon as possible after an arrest.
Facing Drug Charges And Have Questions? We Can Help, Tell Us What Happened.
At Gelman Law, LLC, we understand how sensitive and serious the situation is when you are charged with a drug crime. Whether you are facing charges for possession or distribution of cocaine, heroin, marijuana, prescription drugs or any other type of drug, our skilled defense team has the resources, skill and experience necessary to successfully guide you through this difficult time. The New Jersey criminal justice system can be overwhelming to navigate, particularly when it comes to drug crimes, so call or contact our experienced drug charge defense lawyer for advice and guidance in your Cherry Hill case today.
Get Advice From An Experienced Drug Charges Lawyer. All You Have To Do Is Call 856-861-4236 To Receive Your Free Case Evaluation.
Tenacious Criminal Defense Team at Gelman Law, LLC Represents Clients Facing All Levels of Drug Charges in New Jersey
Possession of any substance listed under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is a crime. The CSA is a consolidation of federal laws regulating the manufacturing and distribution of drugs. The CSA organizes all substances regulated under federal law into five categories or “schedules,” which are:
- Schedule I: Schedule I drugs have no accepted medical use and have a high tendency for abuse. Heroin, ecstasy, LSD and marijuana are examples of Schedule I drugs.
- Schedule II: These drugs may or may not have an accepted medical use, but also have a high potential to be abused and can lead to serious addiction. Some Schedule II drugs may be obtained through a prescription and are subject to stringent recordkeeping. Cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, morphine and fentanyl are Schedule II substances.
- Schedule III: Codeine, ketamine, anabolic steroids and hydrocodone with aspirin or acetaminophen are Schedule III drugs. These have a lower potential for abuse and some accepted medical use despite the dangers that their abuse can create.
- Schedule IV: Schedule IV substances have a low potential for abuse, accepted medical use and a low chance for addiction, but may still be harmful if used improperly. Drugs in this category include Rohypnol, Valium, Phenobarbital and Xanax.
- Schedule V: Drugs with a lesser chance of side effects, low abuse potential and accepted medical use are classified as Schedule V substances. This category includes drugs like Codeine, which is subject to regulation but does not require a prescription.
Common Drug Charge Categories:
Downgraded
Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance With Intent to Distribute
Dismissed
Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance
How Can Gelman Law, LLC Help Fight Your Burlington County Drug Charges?
As soon as you have been charged with a drug related charge, you should seek legal counsel to minimize your risk of conviction and creation of a formal criminal record that can follow you for years after you have successfully completed your punishment. Drug crimes are treated seriously by law enforcement, especially in New Jersey, even if this is your first offense. Furthermore, the difference between possessing illegal drugs and possessing illegal drugs with intent to distribute is substantial in determining the available punishment in your case. Your future depends on your lawyer’s ability to understand the law and work within the system to find creative defense solutions. At Gelman Law, LLC, our experienced defense team can investigate your case to identify ways to reduce your charges and penalties you face.
You may be facing charges for drug possession with intent to deliver, or law enforcement may have discovered some paraphernalia in your vehicle or home. In other cases, you may be facing drug charges related to a legal prescription. Regardless of the type of drug charges levied against you, we can help you find ways to reduce the potential penalties and avoid jail time if possible. This includes charges ranging from the sale of a controlled substance to manufacturing or producing a controlled substance. The smallest detail of your criminal case could change your life, and our defense team is highly experienced and well-equipped to defend you regardless of the type of drug charge at issue in your case.
Contact a Skilled Criminal Defense Lawyer to Fight Your Drug Charges in New Jersey
If you have been charged with possession of a controlled substance or other drug-related offense, you likely have numerous questions about your rights and how to reduce the impact that conviction for a drug charge can have on your life. Our team will examine every aspect of your arrest to determine whether law enforcement conducted searches or seizures properly, and we will work tirelessly to uncover any missing evidence. We begin putting our skills to work immediately, including via pretrial negotiations that can often help you in court.
Because drug charges can carry severe penalties, the lawyer you choose does make a difference. You need a criminal defense lawyer with both the experience and fighting spirit necessary to effectively defend against your drug charges. If you are facing any type of drug-related offense, our dedicated team is here to help. You can either call our Cherry Hill drug charge defense lawyer, or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Charges in South Jersey
The exact defense strategy likely to be most effective in your case will depend upon the specific facts involved. Some common defense strategies involve challenging the propriety of a law enforcement agency’s search and seizure that led to the discovery of drugs. We can also challenge the procedures used by law enforcement or the prosecution to uncover evidence in your case. In other cases, we can argue that you did not actually have control over the drugs or that you lacked the requisite intent involved in the crime alleged.
Whether your charge is a felony (indictable offense) or disorderly persons (disorderly persons offense) will depend upon the type of drug involved, how much of the drug is involved and whether any aggravating factors are present. Generally, possession of greater amounts of drugs are prosecuted as felonies will small amounts of a drug like marijuana may result in disorderly persons-level crimes.
Watch our video below and then call us here at Gelman Law for more information: 856-861-4236
