Each year, police arrest more than 56,000 people for Illinois drug crimes. While there has been a noticeable shift in how society views drug use, this has not yet resulted in a significant decrease in the number of people facing serious drug crimes. If you’ve been arrested for drug possession or possession with the intent to distribute drugs, you need a Rolling Meadows drug crime lawyer who is ready to stand up for your rights. At The Jordan Law Firm, Attorney Anisa Jordan represents individuals facing all types of narcotics offenses. She can help you secure your freedom pending trial, suppress illegally obtained evidence, and work toward the best possible resolution.
Rolling Meadows Drug Offenses
Most drug crimes fall into two broad categories: those involving the possession of a controlled substance or drug paraphernalia and those involving possession with intent to distribute. While drug possession is much less serious than possession with intent to distribute, any drug conviction can have a major impact on your life and your freedom.
Possession of a controlled substance is the legal term describing drug possession. Unlike many other states, mere possession of drugs in Illinois almost always involves felony charges. The severity of the possible punishment depends on the amount of drugs prosecutors claim you have in your possession.
Illinois law provides “threshold” amounts for each type of drug. For example, heroin, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and morphine all have identical threshold amounts, punishable as follows:
- Less than 15 Grams: Class 4 felony, carrying a penalty of up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $25,000.
- Between 16 and 99 grams: Class 1 felony, carrying a penalty of a minimum of four years in jail and a maximum of 15 years in jail.
- Between 100 and 399 grams: Class 1 felony, carrying a penalty of a minimum of six years in jail and a maximum of 30 years in jail.
- Between 400 and 899 grams: Class 1 felony, carrying a penalty of a minimum of eight years in jail and a maximum of 40 years in jail.
- More than 900 grams: Class 1 felony, carrying a penalty of a minimum of ten years in jail and a maximum of 50 years in jail.
Notably, the punishments for delivering a controlled substance or possession with the intent to deliver are significantly higher. If you face drug charges, reach out to a dedicated Rolling Meadows drug crime attorney. An attorney can help you better understand how you can defend against the allegations.
Defenses to Illinois Drug Crimes
Just because you were arrested for a drug crime does not mean that you are guilty. You enjoy the presumption of innocence. Thus, it is up to the prosecution to prove you were guilty beyond a reasonable doubt—if they can. While there are many defenses to drug crimes, most involve challenging the arresting officer’s recovery of the drugs or disputing that you were in possession of the narcotics.
Police officers must respect citizens’ constitutional rights when investigating drug crimes. This requires they have either reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or a warrant before searching you or your belongings. However, over-eager police officers often violate people’s rights during traffic and pedestrian stops. Through a motion to suppress physical evidence, your Rolling Meadows drug crime attorney can argue that the evidence police recovered should not be admissible because they obtained it in violation of your rights.
Another common defense to drug charges involves arguing that you did not “possess” the drugs. Often, police recover narcotics from a location where other people could access the drugs. One example of this is if you were arrested in a car containing several other occupants. In these situations, your attorney may be able to argue that you did not exercise control over the narcotics, meaning you should not be charged with a crime.
While these are two common defenses, there are many others. A drug crime lawyer can help you determine the best defense for your particular case.
Contact a Rolling Meadows Drug Crime Lawyer for Immediate Assistance
If you were arrested for a narcotics offense, don’t give up without a fight. At The Jordan Law Firm, our Rolling Meadows drug crime attorney, Anisa Jordan, can work with you to develop a compelling defense to the charges you face. Anisa Jordan is a former prosecutor with extensive experience litigating cases in front of judges and juries. As a result of this experience, she knows how to successfully defend against even the toughest drug crimes.
Our experienced lawyer also handles other types of criminal charges cases, including:
To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation, give The Jordan Law Firm a call or reach out through our online form.
