Top Staten Island, NY Drug Crime Lawyers Near You

What are some examples of drug-related crimes?

Drug crimes involve any actions related to the use of local, state, or federally banned narcotics like heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine. Some common drug crimes include selling, distributing, consuming, or possessing these substances. The illegal use of prescription drugs like oxycodone and Vicodin also falls under this category. For example, if you police find you with oxycodone, but you do not have a prescription for it, you are likely to be arrested.

How are drug abuse and drug crimes linked?

While many city governments and law enforcement agencies are placing less emphasis on arresting people possessing small amounts of drugs, if you are caught buying drugs and police are targeting a dealer, you could also face arrest. However, many courts are also offering alternative sentencing options for people struggling with addiction who want to get clean.

What makes a drug crime a federal crime?

Nearly any drug offense could see you end up in the federal system because these substances are all banned under federal law. If federal officers, such as those with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), are conducting operations in your area, an arrest by one of those officers would likely lead to federal charges. Using illegal drugs on federal property, such as national parks, can also lead to drug charges. While federal officials often target distributors and traffickers more than people possessing a small amount of drugs, the potential does still exist.

Top Questions to Ask When Hiring an Attorney

• How many years have you been practicing law? How long have you practiced law in the local area?
• How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
• What is the likely outcome for my case?

In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.

Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer

• What is the usual process to resolve my case? How long will it take to resolve this?
• What are likely outcomes of a case like mine? What should I expect?

An experienced lawyer should be able to communicate a basic "road map" on how to proceed. The lawyer should be able to walk you through the anticipated process, key considerations, and potential pitfalls to avoid. Once you've laid out the facts of your situation to the lawyer, he/she should be able to frame expectations and likely scenarios to help you understand your legal issue.

Tips on Hiring an Experienced Lawyer with Drug Crime Cases

The more experienced a lawyer is in legal practice, the more likely he/she will be able to bring about a successful resolution to your issue. Since experience matters, lawyers who've been practicing law for many years (with a successful track record) tend to be in high demand. You should look for information about a lawyer's experience and ask questions during the initial meeting. It's a very good idea to ask the lawyer how many years he/she has been practicing law and the expected outcome of your case.