Benefits of a DC Cocaine Lawyer
A skilled attorney can help with nearly every aspect of a cocaine offense case. From the time the police arrest and question you to defending your rights at trial, a lawyer can be a passionate advocate. There are many other benefits of a DC cocaine lawyer when you are facing criminal charges.
A well-versed attorney can discuss DC cocaine offenses and how they can help with your specific case. With their help, you can find a strategy to fight the charges you are facing.
How An Attorney Can Help After an Arrest
When someone is approached by the police or the police stop them at a traffic stop, there are a few things they should keep in mind to help them preserve their rights. For example, it is important to be courteous and respectful to the police. There is no need to argue or fight with them. A person can protect themselves and assert their rights while maintaining their composure and staying calm.
When an individual is approached by the police, they should ask whether they are being detained. If the officer says they are not being detained, they have the right to walk away. If the officer says they are being detained, there are several constitutional rights available to them. The most important constitutional right when a police officer detains someone is the right to remain silent. A person does not have to answer any questions and may refuse to submit to any searches of their body, vehicle, home, apartment, and their room.
A person also has the right to refuse to answer questions. The police cannot treat them more harshly or charge them with additional crimes for not cooperating with their investigation. However, the police still may search them, their car, or their house anyway. Still, when they assert their rights and decline to consent to any search for cocaine and say nothing else, their lawyer may have an opportunity to challenge the search later in court before a judge in Washington, DC, which could be beneficial.
Common Misconceptions About DC Cocaine Offenses
There are several common misconceptions people have about cocaine in DC. One common misconception for those facing first offense cocaine possession charges is the possibility of going to jail. In Washington, DC, possession of smaller amounts of cocaine for personal use usually does not result in jail time. Several options may be available to a person facing a charge that might result in them not having a criminal conviction on their record.
For example, an individual charged with cocaine possession may be eligible for a diversion agreement that allows them to complete community service in exchange for having their charges dismissed. In other situations, someone may be eligible for drug court that allows them to participate in treatment, group counseling programs, and regular drug testing in exchange for having their case dismissed.
Another common misconception is that prosecutors need to see someone sell cocaine to charge them with possession with intent to distribute charges. Prosecutors use the circumstances of a possession with intent to distribute charge to argue that a person’s intention was to distribute cocaine rather than keep it for their own personal use. The circumstances that prosecutors look at to prove a possession with intent to distribute case include the alleged amount of cocaine a person had, additional paraphernalia such as scales, empty baggies, or an amount of cocaine divided up into equal portions in more than one baggie. Prosecutors may also use evidence that a person was in possession of large amounts of cash to prove they previously engaged in drug sales. A Washington, DC attorney could be beneficial because they have experience handling these cases involving cocaine charges and understand what the prosecutors need to prove and can create a defense to fight their evidence.
Finding the Right Lawyer
Drug charges are extremely complicated. For example, when a person faces allegations of drug distribution or possession with intent to distribute, questions about their constitutional rights may arise such as questions about privacy rights, protections against illegal searches and seizures, and complicated constitutional questions around interrogations and Miranda rights that only an attorney who has a background in defending against cocaine charges understands.
When someone is looking for an attorney to help them in a cocaine case, they should ask them about their background representing people in similar situations. It is especially important to ask an attorney about their background in fighting cocaine charges in Washington, DC because every state is different. Criminal cases in the District are different from the same types of criminal cases in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Having the assistance of a defense lawyer with a history of representing people facing drugs charges specifically in Washington, DC and dealing with the local judges, courts, and prosecutors is incredibly helpful.
There Are Many Benefits of a DC Cocaine Attorney
When you are facing criminal charges, it is important to have an experienced advocate on your side. A well-versed attorney knows how to fully investigate the evidence against you to find ways to dispute the prosecution’s case and articulate a defense in court to give you the best chance of a positive outcome. To discuss all the benefits of a DC cocaine attorney, call today.