What you should do immediately after you’ve been arrested on a drug charge
Calling a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney should be your first step following a drug arrest.
When it comes to terrifying experiences, does it get any worse than being arrested on a drug charge? Whether you have been arrested for possession, driving under the influence, trafficking, sales or manufacturing, your freedom and your future are suddenly at stake. Not only can the time you initially spend in jail after your arrest, a few hours or several days, be a tiny indication of what may await you, it can also serve as motivation to ask yourself a critical question: what do I need to do right now to safeguard my freedom and my future?
Even if you believe you are 100% innocent, the first and most critical decision you can make is to hire a defense attorney. Of course, it will be to your advantage if you hire the “right” defense attorney for your drug case, an experienced and aggressive attorney with the skill to effectively question every aspect of the state’s case against you and to challenge every shred of evidence.
“Good lawyers can be expensive ”
This is the harsh truth about our justice system. It is particularly true when it comes to defending drug cases since many lawyers lack the experience and training required to undertake these typically complex cases. Add in the fact that there are no guarantees when it comes to criminal defense and it makes it even more vital that you know exactly what to look for when choosing the right lawyer for your drug case defense:
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
How many years have they been practicing as a criminal defense lawyer and what types of cases have they handled? Do not let an attorney learn at your expense…choose one who already has years of experience concentrating on drug case defense.
TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL CASE RESULTS
Results count! Ask your prospective lawyer how many cases they have successfully handled and the type of resolutions that were achieved, such as acquittals, hung juries, or plea bargains that resulted in a significant reduction in punishment.
EXPERIENCE & TRAINING IN DRUG CASES
How knowledgeable are they about the latest technology and investigative techniques used by police pursing drug cases? They should be familiar with confidential informants, wiretapping, controlled buys, and other police tactics. Your lawyer should be knowledgeable about the ever changing sentencing guidelines including mandatory minimum sentences in Florida and alternative sentencing options.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP IN CRIMINAL DEFENSE GROUPS
Membership in criminal defense legal group like the Florida and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers indicates that a lawyer is dedicated to continually learning about the latest techniques and trends in defending drug charges. Be sure your prospective attorney is actively engaged.
IS YOU ATTORNEY HIGHLY RATED BY AN INDEPENDENT SOURCE
Many successful lawyers are asked to train other attorneys at seminars and workshops. Make sure your lawyer is held in high esteem with his fellow peers. One way to determine the qualifications of your lawyer is to look him up on Avvo.com, an unbiased nationwide lawyer rating service.
COMMUNICATION & RESPONSE TIME
Next to experience, communication and response time are perhaps the most critical factors to consider in choosing a lawyer to defend your drug charge. How rapidly do they respond to your questions? Your attorney must be reachable in your time of need, whenever that is.
