An arrest on drug charges could lead to a sentencing that takes you away from your family, your freedom, and your future. If you have been charged with drug crimes in Genesee County, you need to contact a local defense lawyer as soon as possible.
At Davis Law Group, we approach drug crimes as zealous advocates for our clients, putting their interests first at every stage of the criminal process. For some clients, this could mean taking their case to trial and avoiding a conviction at all costs. For other clients, their interest might be in discretely and quickly disposing of the case, usually through the negotiation of a plea agreement with the prosecutor. If you’ve been charged with a drug offense and need to talk to a Flint criminal defense lawyer, call us today at (810) 644-5660 for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
The Penalties for a Flint, MI Drug Offense Can Be Devastating
People charged with Michigan drug offenses are usually worried about the prospect of jail time and having to pay fines. These are valid concerns. But for many offenders, the worst consequences are those that emerge upon their release from jail, when they try to re-enter civilian life. The collateral consequences of a drug conviction might include:
- Revoked driving privileges
- Inability to make ends meet because of a lost job
- Difficulties finding a new job because of a criminal record
- Significantly reduced chances of getting accepted into college
- Disqualification from receiving financial aid to pay for college
- Inability to apply for many if not most professional licenses
- Lost child custody
- Deportation for immigrants
- For felons, inability to possess a firearm
A Flint Drug Lawyer Can Help You Access the Genesee County Drug Court
Residents of Flint and the greater Genesee County area accused of drug offenses may avoid criminal prosecution and penalties by participating in a drug court program. Your lawyer may be able to convince the prosecutor or the judge to recommend you for enrollment in the Genesee County Drug Court. While there is no guarantee that your case will qualify for the drug court, there are some factors that make you automatically ineligible:
- You’ve been charged with a serious a drug offense, such as trafficking
- Your character makes you unfit for enrollment
- You have a history of violent or sexually abusive behavior
- You have no documented history of drug abuse
If you get accepted into the program, you must plead guilty to the charges and adhere to the following requirements:
- Drug testing three times a week
- Bi-weekly meetings with the drug court judge to monitor progress
- Weekly visits with your case manager
- $300 participation fee
If you satisfy these requirements, you may graduate from the program after 16 to 24 months, at which point your drug conviction will be dismissed. You will not serve any time or pay any fines, but you will need to apply to have the record of your drug arrest expunged. If you drop out of the program, you will have to serve a sentence and your conviction will remain on your record.
Genesee County Resources
Local efforts have been made to find resources to help drug users and those charged with distribution or possession to find alternatives to time behind bars. The drug court is a good way to find justice and get your record expunged. The Greater Flint Health Coalition Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force focuses on providing assistance to those in need, while also raising awareness of best practices and new innovations to help people in the area.
The Genesee County Prevention Coalition focuses on providing a framework and planning process to prevent substance abuse and misuse for area residents, educating its members on prevention planning and helping the community change behaviors and attitudes towards drug abuse and misuse.
Giving Your Case a Thorough and Effective Defense
When your freedom, reputation, and finances are at stake, you need a seasoned Flint drug lawyer by your side to help you come out on top. As a former prosecutor, Attorney Maurice Davis knows how prosecutors build their cases, which gives him a unique ability to build an effective defense. When it comes to negotiating a plea agreement, Attorney Davis knows what prosecutors are looking for and the areas in which they may be able to make concessions.
The key to the defense of drug cases, (similar to DUI cases) however, is in ensuring that some of the prosecutor’s evidence gets excluded from the case. By filing a motion to suppress, your lawyer can make sure that any evidence that the police obtained illegally will not be presented at your trial. For example, if the police found drugs in your car, but cannot articulate why they pulled you over in the first place, the drugs cannot be used as evidence against you. There are many situations that may result in the exclusion of evidence of your case.
Our drug lawyers in Flint, Michigan have built our reputation on our ability to successfully resolve the following types of drug cases:
- Use of a Controlled Substance — While only a misdemeanor, this offense involves fines, the possibility of jail time, and the certainty of a permanent criminal record.
- Drug Possession — Depending on the type of drug and the amount involved, possession may be a felony or a misdemeanor.
- Drug Trafficking — Manufacturing, delivering, or possessing drugs with the intent to deliver is a serious felony punishable by time in prison and fines reaching into the millions of dollars in some cases.
- Counterfeit Drugs — Creating, selling, or possessing counterfeit, synthetic, or imitation drugs are serious offenses involving harsh penalties.
- Prescription Drug Charges — With prescription drug abuse on the rise, Michigan has enacted tough laws to curb the use, possession, or trafficking of prescription drugs.
- Federal Drug Charges — Fighting a drug case in federal court is more expensive than litigating in state court, and the possible penalties are generally harsher.
