Heroin Defense Lawyers in Belmar, New Jersey Will Work to Clear Your Charges
Heroin usage and related charges, like heroin possession and distribution, have grown to be a huge problem in New Jersey. As heroin deaths and overdoses rise, NJ police are focusing on heroin crimes, carrying out some of the harshest penalties in the nation.
Heroin's proliferation in New Jersey makes it cheaper for buyers to acquire, in comparison with other states. The grade of heroin is also elevated in NJ. The combination of purity and price leads to a dangerous blend that is creating heroin ODs.
Defeating a heroin charge requires a smart legal strategy so you can fight heroin possession or distribution charges. The law affords you protection, even in the event of serious drug charges like intent to distribute heroin or possession.
Arrested for a heroin drug related crime in Belmar, New Jersey? Get advice from the drug defense attorneys at Villani & DeLuca before time runs out.
Heroin Charges According to New Jersey Law (N.J.S.A 2C:35-10)
Heroin possession is a third degree felony in New Jersey and comes with a five-year jail term and a hefty fine of up to $35,000.
New Jersey has seen heroin usage swell very quickly. Heroin is the “number one health care crisis” in New Jersey according to the Task Force on Heroin and Other Opiate Use by New Jersey Youths and Young Adults. If you are suffering from heroin addiction and have been charged with possession of heroin, you should retain a practiced NJ heroin defense lawyer, capable of defending heroin charges.
NJ Heroin Possession Lawyers with Extensive Experience
Villani & DeLuca has been representing people arraigned with drug crimes like possession and intent to distribute heroin since 1996. An attorney like Partner Carmine Villani, Esq. can use previous experiences assisting individuals confronted with drug crimes like heroin possession to build a better defense for you.
Protect Yourself from These Serious Heroin Charges
Your future will be seriously affected by the outcome of your court case. Your criminal history can greatly affect your consequences, from probation, with no impact on your criminal record, to a maximum of 20 years in prison, with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Your charges and potential penalties have a lot to do with the circumstances of your arrest. Whether you are charged with possession or distribution is in part dependent upon the amount of heroin in your possession when you are caught. You may also have an issue if you were arrested in a designated school zone.
Simple Heroin Possession in NJ
Possession of heroin is not an automatic jail term in NJ. Pretrial Intervention (PTI) and conditional discharge are two options for first-time offenders. Your drug defense attorney can argue that the circumstances surrounding your arrest were illegal and against code.
If you have been charged with the intent to sell, your sentence will be more severe than simple possession. Heroin possession with the intent to distribute can lead to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $75,000, with license suspension for a period of six months to one year, if convicted.
Heroin Distribution and Intent to Distribute Laws in New Jersey
Distribution of heroin can carry more extreme penalties than simple possession. Just a half ounce of heroin can bring about a charge for the intent to sell. The intent to sell is legally identical to actually distributing in regard to repercussions. You may be served with up to a five-year sentence and face a $75,000 fine for the intent to distribute just a half ounce of heroin. If you are convicted of attempting to sell more than 5 ounces of heroin, you will be faced with a 1st degree crime. There is a mandatory prison term of 10 to 20 years, and a fine of up to $500,000 upon conviction.
Heroin Distribution and Possession in or Near a School Zone
School-zone drug arrests can lead to greatly increased penalties and charges. A school zone does incorporates more than the immediate location around school building. School zones extend 1,000 feet from the school building and vehicles.
Protect Your Future from a Heroin Conviction
There are lots of options available to you with the assistance of an attorney who has fought cases similar to yours in the past. A qualified NJ drug lawyer may be able to have your case dismissed, have the charges significantly reduced or avoid impacting your criminal record.
Without probable cause, an officer is restricted in what he may search. A drug defense lawyer will provide direction based on what occurred prior to and during your arrest.
An additional option to avoiding sentencing may be to pursue a conditional discharge, depending on whether this is your first heroin arrest. With a conditional discharge, you are receive probation and may avoid a drug arrest on your permanent record.
Pretrial Intervention (PTI). This program is designed for rehabilitation rather than incarceration and lets defendants to undergo drug treatment therapy as a way to prevent further drug-related crimes and arrests in New Jersey.
Villani & DeLuca Heroin Defense Lawyers are Available 24/7 in Belmar
Need an attorney? Villani & DeLuca lawyers will advise you on what they think the best course of action is. Call (732) 709-7757 today for a free session. NJ heroin defense lawyers serving Belmar, NJ are here to assist.