Many people, especially those who are young, get into trouble with the law due to the possession or use of illegal drugs. Many think it is only going to be a slap on the wrist with no serious consequences. In many instances, minor drug offenses can lead to a lot of problems. If the crime is charged as a misdemeanor, it will lead to a permanent criminal record. A permanent criminal record will potentially lead to lots of problems when trying to get employment or housing. With the low cost of background checks, it can be a huge disadvantage to have a criminal record regardless of how minor the offense was. In addition to that, college student financial aid is not available for those convicted of drug crimes. That is why those who are charged with drug crimes should consider hiring a criminal lawyer no matter how minor the charges seem to be.
In the United States, it is necessary for prosecutors to prove that a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal court. This is a burden of proof that is often difficult for the state to prove. In many instances, the state has a weak case against defendants. But these defendants are convicted because they decide to accept plea deals without the help of legal counsel. With drug offenses in New City, NY., such as those featured on the website, a lawyer can often get not guilty verdicts from jury trials, thus avoiding a permanent criminal record.
If it is not possible to win a case at trial, it is often possible to get significant reductions in the punishment via plea bargaining. There is a risk for both sides to go to trial. Juries can be quite unpredictable. Prosecutors do not like to lose cases. A plea bargain resulting in a guilty verdict still counts as a win. In addition, many prosecutors know that those with minor drug charges can often become productive citizens. In some instances, it may be possible to reduce the drug charges so that they become infractions rather than misdemeanors. That is another common way for criminal defense attorneys to help defendants avoid getting a criminal record.
