If the police have charged you with a drug crime, you may be shocked and unsure what to do. You will want to review the case and prepare a defense as early as possible. Here is what you should do in the days following a charge.

Contact Drug Crimes Lawyers

Your first job is to contact drug crimes attorneys and obtain counsel. Cops and prosecutors aren't messing around when they charge folks with drug-related offenses. Regardless of your opinion of these laws, the power of the state is lined up against you. If you don't start using the law to push back, you risk serving years in prison, suffering post-prison penalties, and even losing property. Lawyer up so you can plan a defense with the support of someone experienced.

Make Limited Notes

Until you have the chance to hire an attorney and conduct privileged discussions, you need to make limited notes of what happened. To be clear, avoid writing down anything that an overzealous prosecutor might consider incriminating.

Your notes should include the most basic of information. When did you encounter the police? What were the officers' names? What are the charges? Were there witnesses? If so, what were their names?

Initial Hearings

Defendants have the right to speedy trials. If the courts are dawdling with scheduling the initial hearing, drug crimes lawyers can petition for the state to either hear the case or drop the charges. Likewise, you have the right to a bail hearing so you can request your release. Especially with local police officers and prosecutors, law enforcement may be prone to taking its time with cases.

Demand an Explanation from the Court

When the court schedules your initial hearings, your attorney can demand an explanation of why the cops charged you and what evidence supports the charges. The judge can then decide whether they believe there's enough evidence to justify further investigation. If not, your attorney will ask the judge to dismiss the case.

You also have the right to know what the alleged evidence against you is and who the state plans to use as witnesses. During the initial hearings, the government only has to prove there likely was a crime. As you move closer to a trial, the state has to give your drug crimes lawyers access to any evidence or witnesses they might introduce at trial. If there's something problematic, your attorney can ask the judge to exclude it.

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