From Serious to Entertaining: Blogs on Legal Matters

Have you been accused of drug possession? If you have, you need the services of an experienced criminal lawyer. Below is an excerpt discussing how a criminal lawyer can help out with your drug possession case. 

Securing Bail

If you have been arrested for the offence, the lawyer will request the arresting officer to grant you bail. If this is not possible, the lawyer will move to court and make a bail application. If successful, they will inform you about the bail conditions. For instance, you could be prohibited from travelling out of the state. 

Assessing The Brief Of Evidence

The brief of evidence is a document detailing the reasons for the arrest, the arresting officer's statement, your past criminal records and any evidence that the police could have against you. This information is vital as it will help the lawyer compare your facts vis-à-vis those of the police. Ultimately, they will be in a better position to plan your defence. 

Gathering Evidence

Once the lawyer takes your statement, they will need to gather evidence regarding the case. For example, they may need to interview witnesses, gather CCTV footage and revisit the scene of the crime to get a better understanding of your case. In some cases, the lawyer could require a private detective's services to help trace witnesses who could be in hiding. 

Pleas

Your lawyer will assess your situation and advise on a suitable plea. The lawyer will ask you to plead not guilty if you did not commit the offence or if there is a high likelihood of winning the case. However, there are cases when the lawyer could advise you to plead guilty. It happens when the prosecution has overwhelming evidence against you. If this is the case, the lawyer will ask the court for diversion. Simply put, you will not get a criminal record. However, you will have to agree to the court's conditions. For example, you could be asked to attend a drug awareness program. 

Court Hearings

If you plead not guilty, your lawyer will represent you during contest mentions. If you have a strong case, the magistrate could ask the prosecution to dismiss the charges. During the mention, your lawyer could also ask the magistrate to dismiss evidence collected without following due process. After the mentions, your lawyer will argue out your case in court. If you do not receive a fair verdict, the lawyer will apply for an appeal.  

When hiring a criminal lawyer, conduct some due diligence to ensure they are experienced in drug possession cases. Besides, the lawyer should have reasonable terms and friendly pricing. 

Contact a local criminal lawyer if you have questions about your case.