If you have recently been charged with a drug-related crime, you are probably not looking forward to your upcoming court case. Although it's true that judges and prosecutors are taking many of these charges very seriously nowadays, there are things that you can do to help prevent things from being so bad.
If you avoid these three things while awaiting trial, you can help ensure that your case goes as smoothly and well as possible:
1. Take Too Long to Hire an Attorney
Don't wait until the days before your actual court date to hire a lawyer. Depending on your case, your attorney will need some time to come up with a defense for you. Plus, your lawyer can give you solid legal advice every step of the way in the weeks and months leading up to your court date.
Even if you don't have all of the money that you need to pay an attorney now, consider working out a payment plan with a good criminal lawyer in your area. Many will begin working on your case right away and will allow you to pay them in installments.
2. Continue Using Drugs
It is imperative to stop using drugs as soon as possible. If necessary, enroll in an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation facility to get the help that you need. You do not want to risk getting caught with drugs again; if you do, your case could become a lot more serious. Plus, the judge will have a hard time being lenient on you if you don't show remorse for what you have done and if you aren't trying to make an improvement.
3. Associate with Known Drug Dealers
Stay away from known drug dealers and convicted felons while you are awaiting trial. This is important for a few reasons. First of all, you don't want to be tempted to use drugs again. Secondly, you don't want to be caught by law enforcement around individuals who are breaking the law. It's best to keep to yourself and away from drug and crime-heavy areas and individuals until the matter has been resolved.
As you can see, there are a few things that you should avoid doing while you're awaiting trial for a drug-related charge. Although you might not be able to prevent yourself from being convicted, avoiding these things can help your case go much more smoothly and positively when you do to go in front of a judge.
To learn more, contact a company like Gerstenzang O'Hern Sills & Gerstenzang with any questions or concerns you have.
