As a society, we often think that people who are accused of drug crimes are bad people who don’t deserve a second chance, let alone the possibility to see the outside of a jail cell. But the fact of the matter is that most drug crimes are non-violent in nature, and the people accused of the crimes have rights — the most important of which is that they are innocent until proven guilty.
We say all of this because the stigma of a drug charge can linger long after a conviction, even if the individual has paid his or her debt to society for what they have done. Even after jail time and other legal penalties, the individual’s criminal record can make it very difficult for them to find work or to find a suitable place to live.
In addition to all of this, prosecutors often go “all out” on people who are accused of drug crimes, trying to set an example that presumably would ward off people from ever dealing with drugs. However, this line of thinking isn’t necessarily grounded in reality. Drug cases also often see vague charges such as “drug conspiracy” charges which carry significant penalties that can ruin a person’s life, even though they may not mean much literally.
All of this is to say that if someone is accused of a drug crime, they need legal representation, and they need to get it as soon as possible. Anyone who is accused of a crime should invoke their right to remain silent and contact Jacquelyn Ford Law to help them through this difficult time in their life.
