New York Drug Crime Lawyer

Finding the right New York drug crime lawyer can make a major difference for your criminal case. Attorneys who bring years of experience and a track record of success can work in your best interests for such criminal charges, helping you strike favorable deals intended to help you move on from these challenging times.

Partnering with a NYC criminal defense lawyer like Julie Rendelman provides deep knowledge of any and all drug-related crimes. With her past experience as a prosecutor and her aggressive approach to protecting the rights of her clients, you can be certain that you are in the best of hands when facing the most complex criminal charges.

What Is a Drug Crime Lawyer?

When individuals in New York are arrested and charged with drug-related crimes, a drug crimes lawyer or attorney can work to guide the client through every detail of the legal process. Attorneys will present all the options available to the client, gather more information about the case, develop possible legal defenses, and work to find a solution that supports your best interests.

Your attorney is on your side during these stressful times. A New York drug crimes lawyer may also work directly with the opposing prosecutor to strike a deal that could lessen or reduce the legal consequences that you are facing. They represent you and protect your rights during what is likely an intimidating legal process, helping to carefully guide you through every detail of the process.

What Is Considered a Drug Crime Under New York Law?

There are many different drug-related crimes according to New York law, with the most common charges being drug possession, drug dealing, drug trafficking, and manufacturing of illegal substances. These crimes can come in both misdemeanor and felony charges, where “classes” and “degrees” articulate the severity of the crime.

Classes & Degrees of Drug Crimes in New York

Drug crimes are categorized based on classes and degrees. What you are actually charged with matters significantly.

For instance, possession of a small amount of cannabis could result in a Class A misdemeanor charge in the 7th degree, which comes with a fine of $1,000 or up to a year in prison.

Then, possession of more dangerous drugs in larger amounts could result in what is known as a Class C felony in the 4th degree, a federal crime, with the potential of more than five years in prison, with, potentially, $15,000 in monetary fines.

Misdemeanors are considered less severe crimes, while a felony crime comes with a minimum jail sentence. Federal prosecutors are known to show less leniency against defendants.

Should there be an intent to sell, distribute, or manufacture controlled substances, that could also lead to longer prison sentences and far more in monetary fines. The legal consequences can vary greatly depending on the nature of the case, the types of drugs involved, the amount of drugs in your possession,  the client’s criminal history, and the individual’s intent to either distribute or manufacture the controlled substances.

Each case is unique to the individual client, calling for a personalized approach to defending these charges. Regardless of the severity of the crimes, each case calls for the representation of a qualified criminal defense attorney who can work to lessen the potential legal consequences.

What Types Of Defense Strategies Can a New York Drug Crimes Lawyer Utilize?

The legal defenses for these types of charges can come in many different forms and will likely be dependent on the nature of your case. The burden of proof is on the prosecutor, meaning that they will need to prove with complete certainty that the client committed the crime in question.

Commonly, attorneys will challenge the evidence against the client, arguing that how law enforcement acquired such evidence against the client was done so unlawfully.

Should a client have been illegally searched at any point during the ordeal, that could be the basis for a legal defense. Further, an attorney could potentially argue that the means in which the drugs were weighed, measured, and tested was done so improperly, potentially reducing the legal consequences.

An attorney can also argue that the defendant was unwittingly in possession of the illegal substance, with no real intent to commit a drug-related crime. An exceptional legal defense will carefully consider every detail of the case, how law enforcement obtained their evidence, and the validity of the evidence used against the client.

Possible Outcomes Achievable by a New York Drug Crime Lawyer

The absolute best possible outcome for a drug-related crime in New York is acquittal, meaning that the defendant is simply not guilty of the crimes for which they are being charged. There are no guarantees, however, and many attorneys will look to have the charges reduced, working to reduce prison time or monetary fines.

Many factors will influence the results of your case.

The Potential Legal Consequences of a Drug Crim Charge in NEw York

These crimes are serious and can have lifelong consequences beyond monetary fines and prison time. A criminal record can limit your ability to travel, obtain professional certifications, and limit your ability to find employment after you have served your time in prison. Your crimes will appear in criminal background checks conducted by employers for many years, and you could be ordered into drug rehabilitation programs.

Further, as part of your conviction, you could be forced to wear an electronic monitor years after your prison sentence.

How Long Do You Go to Jail for Drug Possession in New York?

Depending on a client’s criminal history, the nature of the crime committed, and the intent to sell or manufacture, clients in New York could face potential prison time of anywhere between one year to life in prison.

Contact A New York Drug Crime Lawyer Today

Your livelihood is at stake, and retaining a qualified drug crime lawyer is well worth the costs. People make mistakes, and one drug-related crime doesn’t mean you have to face a lifetime of legal consequences. Take these charges seriously from the very beginning and retain the services of a criminal defense attorney in New York like Julie Rendelman to address every detail of your case.

Ms. Rendelman offers free case evaluations to determine your eligibility. Experience personalized and aggressive legal defenses for all drug-related charges in New York, regardless of their severity or complexities.

Julie Rendelman brings decades of experience in these matters, crafting sound legal defenses and striking favorable deals for her clients in some of the most complex and difficult criminal cases across New York. Her aggressive approach to defending the rights of clients has seen continued success.

Contact Julie Rendelman today and begin the process now.