That means there is also a huge amount of demand for the help of skilled lawyers. However, some people do not understand why it is supposed to be so vital to find a drug possession attorney after facing drug possession charges.

The truth is that working with the right attorney can provide a long list of benefits that can make it more than worth your while. If your legal situation seems bad now, you may find that a great attorney can help things resolve much better than you imagine.

Read on to learn all about the top ways a qualified drug possession attorney can help you!

Understand Your Drug Charges Prospects

Most people don’t have much experience dealing with drug charges. In contrast, drug possession lawyers get to see how a wide variety of drug possession cases are resolved in the end. That gives them the perspective necessary to assess your legal situation after being charged with drug possession.

You might think that you already know how your case is likely to end. However, you might be surprised by how much you can learn from the expertise of an experienced drug possession lawyer.

On the one hand, you might discover that things are worse than you realize. Although this can be unhappy news, it is also vital to hear it in such cases. The more realistic you are about your prospects, the better you can prepare your strategy to help things go as well as possible.

On the other hand, you might find out that your legal situation is much better than it seems at first. Until you speak with a drug possession attorney, you really won’t know what you are dealing with.

When you are preparing for a drug possession trial, ignorance can be dangerous. Knowledge is power, and the insight of a skilled drug possession lawyer can go a long way toward helping you make the wisest decisions possible given your difficult circumstances.

Avoid Mistakes After Drug Possession Charges

One reason it is so important to have the experience of a lawyer on your side is so that you can avoid mistakes that can affect your life for years to come. In the middle of drug possession charges, it can be easy to say or do something that can make it much harder for you to avoid being found guilty later on.

The sooner you speak with a lawyer, the sooner you can learn about all of the different ways that their past clients have made things worse for themselves by accident. That understanding can help you avoid similar mistakes and start investing in the best case outcome possible in your situation.

One of the reasons it is so difficult to avoid mistakes after drug possession charges is that what seems fine in an everyday context is not always acceptable in a courtroom context. Sometimes, achieving an acceptable case outcome is as much about avoiding mistakes as it is about making a strong case for yourself.

Understand How to Behave in Court

In theory, our courtrooms should focus mostly on whether or not people are guilty or innocent. However, in practice, there is a lot that you can do in the courtroom that can make things go better or worse for you.

Knowing how to act in a courtroom context can have a huge effect on what kind of sentencing you receive. The more that you know how to make a positive impression on the judge, the less likely you are to regret failing to do so for months or years.

Know How to Challenge a Drug Arrest

Some people feel that once they have been charged with drug possession, it is too late to change anything. However, the truth is that drug arrests are not always as airtight as they seem. In fact, police officers will sometimes exaggerate how airtight the evidence they have is in the hopes that someone will give up and stop trying to provide themselves with the best defense possible.

That is one of the biggest reasons it is so important to get a lawyer on your side as soon as possible after a drug arrest. Your lawyer will be able to analyze your situation and identify any weak points in the case that could be made against you. They might even be able to find violations of your rights that can invalidate some of the evidence that points toward your guilt.

At the end of the day, challenging a drug arrest is a complicated process that requires a lot of training and experience. Without a lawyer on your side, there is not much chance that you will be able to defend yourself effectively.

Get Drug Attorney Help Gathering Evidence

If you wait too long before finding a drug attorney to help you, that might be too late to gather evidence that could be crucial to improve your case outcome.

Depending on your situation, it might be helpful to gather statements from witnesses. In some cases, drug attorneys even help their clients by finding expert witnesses who can testify on their behalf. There might also be a fair amount of physical evidence to gather or photos and videos that would be worth collecting for your day in court.

However, all of this evidence preparation takes time and planning. The sooner you have an attorney who knows how to help find the most effective evidence to defend you in court, the more evidence you will be able to gather.

Receive Skilled Representation in Court

Of course, the way your evidence and story are presented will also make a big difference in the persuasiveness of your defense. That is why it is essential to find an experienced drug possession attorney to help you.

Many drug possession in cases are settled out of court. As a result, some drug possession attorneys rarely represent their clients during an actual trial. If you are not careful, you might end up hiring a lawyer to help you who has little experience providing a persuasive defense against drug charges.

You will also want the experience of a successful drug possession attorney on your side when it comes to all of the forms, rules, and procedures that must be followed in court.

On the other hand, you might end up deciding to negotiate a deal before going to trial as well. In such cases, attorneys who have a lot of experience negotiating similar deals can help you receive the best deal possible.

Benefit From Connections With Prosecutors

During a trial, the lawyers on the sides of the prosecution and the defense oppose each other. However, outside of trials, these same lawyers often enjoy friendly relationships. The right drug possession attorney for you may have relationships going back years with members of the prosecution.

Those kinds of relationships can make a huge difference in determining what kind of deal you get in a negotiation.

Reduce Your Sentencing as Much as Possible

Depending on your situation, a skilled drug possession lawyer might be able to help you avoid a guilty sentence. If that is not possible, then you will still want the best defense possible to help you reduce your sentencing. That goes double because Texas has some of the highest conviction rates in the US.

Save Money After a Drug Possession Arrest

Some people feel that hiring a qualified lawyer is too expensive. However, that analysis is often shortsighted. In the long run, it is almost always better to invest in the best representation you can.

After all, if you can’t work for years because of your case outcome, you will lose much more money to lost wages. You can also end up paying enormous fines if you don’t have a drug possession attorney to help reduce your sentencing.

Working with a skilled drug possession lawyer can also decrease the chance that you lose your job after facing drug charges.

Know How a Drug Possession Attorney Can Help

Not everyone is sure at first that they need the services of a skilled drug possession attorney. However, there is a much lower chance that you will be found innocent if you don’t have the help of an experienced lawyer on your side. Investing in anything that can reduce your sentencing is an investment that will pay for itself many times over.

To learn more about how you can find the best drug possession attorney for your legal situation, reach out and get in touch with us here at any time!

On average, every 25 seconds, someone is arrested for drug possession in the US. This statistic has grown steadily, and today one-fifth of the incarcerated population is now there on drug charges. The best way to avoid becoming another sad statistic is to get the best legal help right away. When it comes to beating drug charges, what’s the best way to find the best drug lawyer for your case?

Using a smart vetting process for potential Montgomery county drug lawyers can help narrow down your decision. Read on as we give some essential questions to ask a drug lawyer in Montgomery County.

1. How Long Have You Been Practicing?

You can get a great criminal lawyer who does not have any experience. However, it is unlikely they will know the intricacies of criminal defense. They may also lack personal knowledge regarding how to talk to a judge and jury if the case does go to trial.

Ask how long the lawyer has specialized in criminal defense. If they work with many different types of law, they may lack experience in your field despite having operated for a long period of time. One or two specialist areas is the ideal number.

2. How Do You Charge?

There are three ways a drug possession attorney can charge. These are an all-inclusive flat fee, by the hour, or a hybrid of both. You need to know how they charge to decide if you can afford their fees.

An inclusive flat rate gives you a much better understanding of the final cost. It will be one sum from beginning to closure, regardless of if the case runs on or ends quickly.

A flat rate can also give the lawyer incentive to get the best result for your case in the fastest amount of time.

With an hourly fee, the costs could spiral without you even knowing. Make sure you ask to see samples of billing to ensure it is transparent and all time is accounted for properly. Of course, you could always end up paying less in this situation.

A hybrid approach is a mix of both. A lawyer may charge a flat fee for the services, then charge hourly if it goes to trial. Neither of the above methods is bad or better; they just suit people differently.

3. Who Will Be Handling My Case?

Generally, the larger the company, the more people will be involved in your case. There may be different attorneys, paralegals, and interns all looking at it at any one time.

On one hand, you have a lot of trained people working for you. On the other, communication can often get lost in these large firms. Information may get missed from person to person.

To avoid this, choose a smaller local drug possession lawyer in the Montgomery County area. You will build a relationship with the person building your case, increasing trust and communication.

4. How Often Do You Go to Trial and What Is Your Trial Experience?

A drug possession attorney may settle the case with a plea bargain and avoid going to court. This is logical, as court cases will cost more money and time. However, this can not always be done, and in some instances, the courtroom is where the case may be headed.

If your case is complicated and it could have a chance of going to court, you need experience. Ask which court cases the lawyer has done in the past, how they prepared, and what they think the likelihood of going to court is. Standing in front of a judge and jury and arguing a case needs a very specific skill set.

5. Do I Owe Any Other Fees?

Once you know how the criminal lawyer charges, you need to check that you don’t owe other fees. Filing complaints, motions, and briefs all cost a lot, and you need to know if these are in the price given or not. If you need experts to testify on your behalf, then the fee will increase even further.

All of this helps you get a picture of the final cost. Don’t leave it until the last minute to ask this either. You could be wasting your time and the lawyers if the pricing is not suited to you.

If you can afford it in one go, speak with the criminal defense lawyer. They may offer payment plans or have ways to bring the cost down.

6. How Is Their Standing With the State Bar?

Anyone can go to the state bar website and check on a lawyer. This will tell you any issues they may have had, such as sanctions, complaints, and rebukes. Don’t write the attorney off if they have these, but give them chance to explain their side of the story and make a decision after this.

7. How Do You Communicate?

Communication is important because some people will have very different ideas about getting in touch with their lawyers. You may be imagining a 24-hour direct telephone line to your attorney. On the other hand, they may operate by sending you an email once a week to discuss progress.

First, establish how you contact them. Is it best via email or phone? What is their reply turnaround time is to your queries?

After this, discuss how often you will be updated on the case. You could request a weekly or fortnightly update just to put your mind at rest. The last thing you want is a bill from an attorney you have never heard from.

8. What Are My Obligations?

When the criminal defense lawyer takes your case, you will need to provide them with certain information. These may be documents or accounts that can build a case.

It is important that you are honest with your lawyer. If you have prior convictions or have been charged for the same offense in the past, let them know. This makes it much easier for them to build a case that will get the best result for you.

Montgomery County Drug Lawyer

Finding the best lawyer involves talking and vetting your potential defense. Don’t feel intimidated or threatened. It is you that will be paying the fee and serving any sentences should it not go to plan.

Non-Stop Justice should be your first option when looking for a criminal defense lawyer in Montgomery. Dealing with criminal and family law, we have the experience and knowledge to build your case. Contact us here to discuss your needs and let us get justice for you, starting today.

In the US, someone is arrested for drug possession every 25 seconds. This incredible statistic reveals how drug laws, and drug convictions, impact the lives of millions every day. Understanding what to do when dealing with drug charges is an important step towards protecting your freedom.

First, there is a difference between being charged and being convicted of drug possession. A conviction is a court declaration of the person’s decided guilt. When a person is charged, they can choose to plead guilty and move to sentencing or decide to plead not guilty and fight the charge in court. A person who is found guilty of drug possession likely faces jail time and/or stiff fines or penalties. A drug possession charge is an allegation of the crime that was supposedly commited.

If you or someone you know has been arrested and charged with drug possession, there are plenty of ways to fight it. From challenging the evidence to asking for alternative punishments to jail and fines, the best attorneys will use the tactics we describe below.

Keep reading to learn more about how a drug possession lawyer will help you fight your charge – and keep you out of jail.

What Are the Consequences of a Drug Possession Charge?

The penalties for drug possession in Texas range from the not-too-serious to incredibly devastating. Texas has some of the highest conviction rates in the US, so any charges should be taken seriously. The penalties one can face depend on a number of factors.

Factors include the type of drug in question, the amount, and other aggravating factors. Aggravating factors are details such as proximity near children or a school. Lastly, the intent to sell or use the drug will impact the penalties as well.

Penalties for a drug conviction include:

• Heavy fines
• Community service
• Jail time or time in a federal prison
• Probation
• House arrest

Beyond these penalties, a conviction from drug possession will go on your permanent record. Having a criminal record for a drug conviction impacts your ability to find employment, get loans, vote, own a gun, and even find housing.

How a Drug Possession Lawyer Fights For You

Remember, being arrested for drug possession is not the same as a conviction. None of the above penalties apply until you’re actually convicted.

When facing drug possession charges, the best possible outcome is to avoid being convicted. How does one avoid conviction?

Like everything else in life, when you have an emergency, you want qualified expert help. If you need a life-saving medical treatment, you want a doctor who specializes in that treatment. It’s the same with the law. It’s best to find a drug possession lawyer that has experience defending drug cases and immediately get them working on your case. A good drug possession attorney can strategize the best course of action and see what must be done to give you the best possible outcome. Every case is unique, but some defenses are more common than others. Below are some common arguments an experienced lawyer could make, given the right circumstances.

Fourth Amendment Rights

Every citizen is afforded certain rights under the Constitution. Your rights under the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution include the right to the due process of law. As part of that, you’re protected against unlawful search and seizure. Therefore, a good attorney will examine how the evidence collected against you was obtained.

For example, an arresting officer must have a reasonable suspicion to stop and search you. If they had no reason to suspect you were breaking the law or putting others at risk, they had no right to search you, and whatever they found during that search could possibly be thrown out of your case.

Missing Evidence

Time often works against defendants in drug cases. This is especially true regarding evidence. Failure to secure evidence quickly can risk things being misplaced, lost, or other critical elements of a case going unprotected.

An experienced drug attorney can act fast to request all of the evidence that the state may use in their case against you. This is a way of making sure that all of the evidence is secured and available for scrutiny by your defense lawyer. Evidence can get lost through multiple transfers, testing, and storing. If the evidence isn’t present, then it’s not admissible in court.

Establishing Constructive Possession

Constructive possession means the prosecution proving that the drugs in your possession were actually yours. Just because something is deemed to be in your possession because of the circumstances, doesn’t mean it actually belongs to you. If you didn’t own the drugs or have knowledge of their presence, your attorney could argue you’re not responsible for the crime..

This might apply in a case where you were driving a friend’s car, for example. Perhaps you borrowed their car and were pulled over for speeding when the drugs were found in the glovebox.

This defense can sometimes be tricky to prove. An experienced drug possession lawyer understands how this defense must be established and presented in order to help your case. Any misstep or overlooked detail could derail this defense so working with your attorney will be critical.

Establishing What the Substance Was

The prosecution in your case has to prove that the substance in your possession was actually a controlled substance. It is possible to challenge the lab reports that determined what the substance was.

By challenging lab reports, your attorney can establish reasonable doubt. That may require the laboratory to retest or to testify in court. Bringing a lab technician in to testify is an expensive process. This can also add to the time the prosecutor needs to prosecute, as well as additional expenses for the court. So, the added pressure from your attorneys challenge could open the door to negotiate reduced charges or even a full dismissal.

Diversion Programs

If there’s no way to challenge the evidence under the Fourth Amendment, by calling into question the legitimacy of lab results, or through the other methods mentioned above, all is not lost. A skilled drug possession lawyer could argue that you and society would be better served by a diversion program than a drug possession conviction.

This is often applied to minor possession charges, and not cases where the police have been observing you for some time. With a diversion program, you may be required to pay fines and court costs, complete a drug treatment program, and submit to drug testing following the rehabilitation program. You may also be required to complete community service.

A big benefit of a diversion program is that, as long as you follow all of your obligations, your charges are dropped. That means there’s no conviction record and you won’t have a criminal record.

However, a diversion program requires sincere effort by the defendant. You must be committed to whatever requirements the court has ordered. This may include getting and staying clean. If you don’t comply, you risk receiving the maximum sentence for the charges and may even have to pay for the rehabilitation you were given.

Ready to Beat Those Drug Possession Charges?

Obviously, no skilled attorney can guarantee results. Every case is unique and will require a full review before deciding on a strategy.. However, having an experienced drug possession lawyer on your side is a big step towards presenting the strongest possible case.

If you or someone you know received a drug possession charge, all hope is not lost. There a number of actions you can take to avoid a criminal record and potential jail time. These may include challenging the evidence gathered against you or looking for alternative sentencing involving a diversion program. But the defense will depend on the particulars of your situation.

When facing drug possession charges in Texas, your freedom and your future are on the line. Give yourself a fighting chance with an experienced drug possession lawyer by your side. Contact us today to find out how we can help.

If You Have a Prescription in Texas

The government is not so stringent that they do not understand that people need to take medication on occasion. However, when traveling with your prescription you must be sure that you have proof of its medicinal needs. Keep all of the pills in the bottle supplied by the pharmacist when having the prescription filled. This will show your name and other information that will help to verify that you are legally allowed to have and consume the said drug at the proper dosage. Do not give or sell your prescription to anyone. And remember to take the proper dosage, when needed as advised by your physician. If you are ever accused of illegal prescription drug possession, contact an attorney immediately for guidance on your defense.

Texas Separates Drug Charges Into 5 Penalty Groups

Charges for drug possession in Texas range from Class A or B misdemeanor to a full-on felony. Drug possession charges are basically categorized in Texas based on the level of medicinal value and addictive properties. The stronger the drug, the tougher the possible sentence.

Penalty Group 1

This is the most serious infraction. It includes things such as cocaine, heroin and various hallucinogens. Even when prescribed, painkilling opioids such as oxycontin or hydrocodone can have you facing up to a lifetime in jail.

Penalty Group 2

Many prescribed drugs are included in this list, such as amphetamines and Xanax. This charge also includes LSD, Ecstasy (MDMA) and other mind-altering substances.

Penalty Group 3 and 4

Both of these charges can be made for possession of prescription drugs not as strong as the ones in Group 1. Both of these cover drugs that have the potential for abuse with a stimulant or depressive effect. Examples would be valium, anabolic steroids, and methylphenidate (also known as Ritalin.)

Marijuana Penalty

Although legal and often prescribed in some states, marijuana (or cannabis) has its own penalty group in Texas. Be it grown naturally or synthetic, possession of even less than 2 grams for recreation or medicinal purposes may lead to incarceration.

In Texas, being charged for any one of these penalty groups is a serious offense. You can be arrested for a one or more crime such as possession, conspiracy, or even trafficking. Just one pill or other infringement of the rock-solid laws can have you facing a minimum of 180 days in jail or up to life imprisonment. You can also be fined upwards of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Charged With Drug Possession?

You could be facing an amount of life-destroying penalties such as:

• Suspension of drivers license
• Years of probation, including house arrest
• Fines anywhere from $1000 to $10,000 for the first offense
• Mandatory addiction treatment
• Imprisonment anywhere from a few months to a lifetime

Factors That Will Affect Your Drug Charge

When charged with drug possession, many things go into consideration for the severity of the charges. These include (but are not limited to):

• Quantity of the illicit substance
• Ways you store or conceal your prescription
• Paraphernalia (such as scales)
• Past offenses or convictions
• Holding large amounts of cash

Need Expert Help? Contact Us Today

At the Law Firm of Andrea M. Kolski, we have been working for 17+ years to help those wrongly accused of prescription drug possession charges. If you are in The Woodlands or other surrounding Houston areas and facing a drug charge, it is imperative that you seek legal representation so that your defense may be told properly and with strength. Call us today at (832) 381-3430 for a review of your case.