When you’re accused of drug trafficking, you need to act on those charges as soon as possible. You may face penalties that can haunt you for life, impacting not just you but your family, who may lose the support you provide.
Because of this, you need to act now to defend your future and get those drug trafficking charges reduced or dismissed with the help of a drug crime lawyer. But getting drug trafficking charges dismissed is not an easy feat. You may have several steps to take to avoid a conviction for drug trafficking, so read on for more information.
Know Your Rights
First, it’s important to know your rights before and during an arrest. You may be able to avoid giving the law enforcement officers more information that may incriminate you. That can help your lawyer defend your case.
For example, you do have the right to remain silent. When you’re arrested, you don’t have to answer all the questions the police may ask you, such as where you were going if you were on the road. You may instead ask to speak with a lawyer, then remain silent until your lawyer can step in and help you.
You also have a right not to be subjected to unlawful search and seizure. Your Fourth Amendment rights state that the police cannot search your property, from your home to your car, without reasonable cause to believe you were committing a crime. For example, if the police pulled you over for a broken headlight, then searched your trunk, evidence they find may be inadmissible in court in some cases.
Get Evidence Early
When you’re accused of trafficking drugs, you need to gather evidence for your defense as soon as possible. Evidence can be lost or destroyed over time, which leaves you without the proof you need to show you’re not guilty.
That’s why your criminal defense lawyer may focus on gathering your evidence right away. Any piece of evidence can be key to your defense, so it’s important to gather as much evidence as possible for your case.
The evidence you gather can vary, depending on what happened and the accusations against you. For example, if you’re charged with drug trafficking, you may have the alleged drugs tested to prove they weren’t drugs. In other cases, you may have a strong alibi that proves you were somewhere else and couldn’t have committed the crimes you’re accused of.
Building a Strong Defense
Once you have the evidence you need, you and your criminal defense lawyer will need to focus on your strategy in the courtroom. Before you head to court, your lawyer will determine who will be called to the stand, what evidence to present, and how you should plead.
If you’re not experienced in a courtroom setting, it can be tough to prepare for this. It’s easy to lose track of evidence, or you may be unsure what to prepare for your day in court. Your lawyer can take charge and help you address the charges leveled against you.
Protect Your Future with a Defense Attorney
If you’ve been accused of a serious crime like drug trafficking, the penalties may be devastating. Rather than accepting your conviction, you need to act fast to protect your future, your family, and your finances.
Because of this, you may need a lawyer from The Chetson Firm on your side. Our lawyers can help you take the right first steps to getting your charges reduced or dropped completely. When you’re ready to take those first steps, call 919-352-9411 or fill out the online contact form below.
