Any type of drug charges, either possession or possession with the intent to sale, are all serious criminal charges that carry significant potential penalties and consequences. Because of this, criminal defense rights are important to be aware of. A criminal defense strategy is developed in response to the unique circumstances of the situation the accused individual is facing but may challenge the stated facts of the case; challenge procedural errors such as search and seizure violations; or offer other defenses such as a medical use for the drugs.
A strong drug crimes defense takes into account the circumstances and specific facts of the situation. A criminal defense response may be based on a violation of police procedure or the accused individual’s rights such as search and seizure rights. Other rights that may be violated include the accused individual’s right to remain silent or right to representation.
Additional criminal defense strategies may include that the drugs belong to someone else; may challenge the crime lab’s analysis of the drugs or that the substance was not what authorities allege it was; missing drugs; that the drugs were planted or that the accused individual was entrapped. Whatever the circumstances, it is important for the accused individual to have a strong criminal defense strategy.
Criminal defense rights protect accused individuals as the criminal justice process unfolds. The future and freedom of the accused individual can be on the line when an accused individual is threatened with drug charges which is why it is important for them to be familiar with their criminal defense options.
Source: Criminal.findlaw.com, “Drug Possession Defenses,” Accessed Oct. 5, 2017
