The consequences of a drug crime conviction are long-lasting and far-reaching.
Hiring a drug crime attorney will give you the best chance of either clearing your name or reducing your sentence. A drug crime conviction goes on your criminal record and can follow you around for the rest of your life.
To prevent a from ruining your life, get the number of a good criminal defense attorney. They will aggressively defend your rights so you can receive a fair trial.
Revoked Driver’s License
Most Americans depend on their car in order to drive to work, run errands, or drop their kids off at school. Depending on the state you live in, your driver’s license may be automatically suspended as soon as you’re found guilty of a drug crime.
While many states have scaled back on driver’s license suspensions, you’ll need to consult with a criminal defense lawyer to see how a drug conviction could affect your ability to drive. Not being able to drive after getting out of jail or prison can severely limit your ability to re-integrate with society.
Fines
If you are convicted of a drug crime, you will be responsible for paying fines. The more serious the crime, the more money you’ll have to pay. For example, is less serious than trafficking drugs across state and national lines. You could end up paying thousands of dollars in fines for drug possessionor possession with intent to distribute.
Jail Time
The amount of jail time you receive will depend on the drug, the amount you were caught with, and what you intended to do with the drug. For example, having a small amount of marijuana for personal use is a lesser crime than transporting large supplies of heroin across state and national borders.
Still, most convictions for drug crimes will end with spending time behind bars. Drug crime attorneys can help minimize by negotiating drug crime sentencing.
Criminal Record
A criminal record is something that follows you around for the rest of your life. While it may not seem like a big deal at first, you may slowly come to realize just how many people use criminal background checks to screen people.
For example, landlords commonly run background checks on potential tenants. This can make it difficult to find housing after getting out of prison. Your criminal record can also affect your ability to find a job or secure a loan.
No Federal Student Aid
Federal student aid and most applications for college admission require you to be truthful about your criminal record. If you were convicted of a drug crime, this will show up on your record and make you ineligible for student loans backed by the government.
While you could always go with a private student loan company, the rates will be much higher. Unfortunately, a college admissions department also may not want to take a chance on a student with a criminal record.
Request a Legal Consultation
Our Grand Rapids drug crime attorney will make sure you receive a fair trial. Attorney Jerry Beurkens is dedicated to helping clients receive the best outcomes after being charged with drug crimes. If you are interested in setting up a legal consultation, give our Grand Rapids law firm a call at (616) 459-5344.
Related Blog Posts
What Happens When Children are Caught with Drugs At School
How Drug Charges Can Impact Your Teenager
Differences Between Drug Possession and Drug Trafficking
This blog post has been updated.
