Being arrested for a drug crime can be a harrowing experience. It can make you feel isolated and alone, as though you are cut of from all hope of reprieve. The system is designed to make you feel that way. The moment you are taken into custody you will begin to feel the weight of the state against you. But if you have done nothing wrong you will get justice. The most important thing you can do once taken in is to remain silent.
The police may try to coax you into talking by saying that it will make things easier for you. You should still say nothing. You must remember that you are innocent until proven guilty, and that you have a Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate yourself. You should instead wait for your attorney to arrive.
Protecting Your Rights
If you have been arrested, your first call should be to a criminal defense attorney such as the ones found at klgdefense.com. Once your attorney arrives, they will tell you which questions you have to answer. If you are too shaken up and rattled to speak to the police, your lawyer can speak for you.
Your lawyer will also look at the evidence the police have against you. Law enforcement officials often exaggerate the amount of evidence they have against suspects in custody. Your lawyer will take a hard look at what they’ve got on you, and if they see nothing that links you to the alleged drug crime you will be released.
Building Your Defense
If you are charged and compelled to defend yourself, your lawyer will want to hear your side of the story. The police are not perfect. They make mistakes all the time in their investigations. They usually monitor a person or place that they suspect of being connected to drugs. When they decide to go in for the arrest, they tend to take in everyone who was present. You may have been swept up in one of these raids. You may be friends with someone the police have under investigation or you may have happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. No matter the circumstances, you cannot be convicted of a drug crime through mere association.
It is up to the prosecutor to prove that you were in possession of illegal narcotics with an intent to distribute them. Your lawyer will scrutinize the evidence they have against you and dissect the arguments they make. They will point out the errors and shortcomings in both and generate the reasonable doubt needed to set you free.
If You Are Guilty
You may have got caught up in something you should not have. You may regret some of the choice you made—choices that now jeopardize your freedom. If the authorities have solid evidence against you, there is still hope. The police may be investigating a larger drug organization and believe that you have information that can help them. If this is the case, your lawyer can negotiate a deal whereby you receive a lighter sentence in exchange for your cooperation.
