Prince George’s County Drug Prosecution
Prince George’s County drug prosecution can be aggressive. Although prosecutors are now more willing to take a treatment-oriented approach, the penalties of a drug conviction can still be quite severe. In order to mitigate the severity of potential penalties you may face, contact an experienced drug lawyer who can defend you.
How Prosecutors Prove Their Case
The issue in Prince George’s County drug prosecution is the necessary elements. They have to be able to legally seize and obtain the substance and to connect the person with the substance. That is generally the easier part because the officer can testify that they saw that person holding that substance.
Intent is a state of mind, which can be hard to get a read on. It can be difficult to prove intent because one cannot get in someone’s head in order to understand how they were acting and what they were doing.
If someone sees a person standing on a street corner and, every couple of minutes, somebody walks by and it looks like they are doing a hand-to-hand transaction and then later on, they are found with a lot of drugs and money on them, it could be argued that their intent is to sell even if they never seized or knew what was in those hand-to-hand transactions. They go by what is called the totality of the circumstances.
How Drug Cases Are Prosecuted
Prosecuting is a relative term. Drug cases are handled firmly and aggressively but not necessarily prosecuted. Unlike people who are caught stealing or committing acts of violence, there is a push to help people when it comes to narcotics, drugs, and substances because many individuals do need help.
There is a much more treatment-oriented approach now than there was before. Prosecuting in the general mind is when someone is put to the test, punished, put in jail, sentenced but currently, there is a lot of diversion that is available for drug charges, there are a lot of alternative resolutions, and there are treatment options.
Those are not typically considered prosecutions. They are more along the lines of helping somebody. However, those cases are typically prosecuted when people are dealing and have had the chance of treatment options but have not taken it or accepted it. Those are prosecuted strictly and severely, but there is an ongoing trend to help people as opposed to prosecution if at all possible.
Law Enforcement’s Approach to Cases
Law enforcement has always prioritized drug cases. Drug charges are always something officers have aggressively investigated and followed through Prince George’s County drug prosecution. Part of it is because drugs are not done in the vacuum. Somebody who is at home and gets drunk every night after work and gets up goes to work, that could be seen as a vacuum. If they are going to work sober but then they have to drink a bottle night, they could obviously use a little help. Maybe they are depressed, maybe they need a little bit of counseling.
They are doing things in a vacuum but drugs are not the same way. Drugs very frequently lead to other crimes such as theft and violence. Particularly speaking, prescription drugs are very, very significant as is heroin. Even though those are two opposite drugs, they are very closely linked because people who start with prescriptions but cannot afford them often turn to heroin because it is cheaper to get the same high and effects. That is why they crack down on both of those.
Investigation Tactics
There are what is called known drug areas or known areas where transactions take place. What the police do is patrol these areas more, set up undercover operations and very frequently, there are undercover officers that go in posing as buyers and dealers. This type of undercover operation is many times seen in the movies and it actually happens a lot.
Most frequently though, it is individuals who themselves have been charged that provide either information or they actually do what is called a ‘controlled buy’ or purchase. They are checked for money, they are given marked money, and they oftentimes wear a recording device and they are sent to do a purchase.
After a number of these, they can get the person they really want and that is often the supplier. Very frequently, they work with the community, with individuals who are trying to help themselves in going up the ladder to get the source of the drugs.
Value of a Lawyer
Prince George’s County drug prosecution can be aggressive. If you face drug charges, you should contact an attorney that will be equally aggressive in defending you. A qualified drug lawyer will know about potential diversion programs that may exist and can get you the help you need. Most importantly, a Prince George’s County drug lawyer will fight for you.