Baltimore Drug Penalties

Baltimore is pretty assertive about enforcing laws against drug crimes, particularly those involving felony-level drug involvement. Even a first offense can carry up to 20 years of incarceration for virtually any substance except marijuana. Especially with the opioid epidemic and fatalities on a daily basis, they are being prosecuted far more assertively than they used to be.

The nature of the substance, the record of the individual, and the nature of the alleged incident all play a role in influencing the harshness of Baltimore drug penalties. The best way to avoid these penalties is to let an experienced defense lawyer handle your case. They could negotiate with prosecutors for a positive resolution to your case.

First-Time vs. Repeat Offenders

Typically, a prosecutor’s office will take into account whether an offense is a first-time or repeat event in weighing the severity of penalties to impose. Whenever someone is charged, the sentencing guidelines take into account the nature of the offense charged and the person’s history. The worse their history is, the higher the guideline’s range.

For example, on a first offense, someone could face six to 18 months in jail, for which the guideline has an automatically recommended sentence. If they have priors and a history, their recommended range could be two to five years, five to eight, or even more, depending on the nature of the offense.

Alternatives to Jail for a First Offense

If someone is charged with a first-offense possession, typically they do not go to jail. They will be given probation, treatment, and monitoring to make sure they stay clean. They may even get the benefit of a probation before judgment, which allows somebody to avoid a conviction and ultimately permits expungement after three years. However, if it is a second offense or more than that, they may serve jail time. Depending on what their priors are and how recent, they could serve significant jail time from days to weeks or even months for just possession.

How a Drug Lawyer Could Help

An attorney could help lessen penalties associated with drug crimes for a client at the very least by mitigating the damage of the crime. Assuming there is no challenge to the legitimacy of the evidence itself, if a person is only convicted of the charge, the attorney could see that the person gets treatment, enrolls in Narcotics Anonymous classes or self-help meetings, and undergoes random urinalyses to show they are clean. Those factors can put somebody in the better place when trying to ask for a lenient sentence.

Discuss Potential Penalties with a Baltimore Drug Attorney

If you were accused of a drug offense, you can become more familiar with the potential Baltimore drug penalties by speaking with an attorney. Research may give you the maximum penalties and laws, but it cannot give you the pragmatic and actual dispositions of the court. A well-versed drug lawyer could explain the likely outcomes of your case based on their extensive experience in local courts. They could provide sound legal advice and defend you at every step. Call today to schedule a case review.