Legal Implications of Being Caught With Drugs

By James Handforth

One cannot even begin to comprehend the problems that come to someone who has been caught with drugs. Almost all the states of the world consider it to be amongst the most serious crimes. Countries such as Singapore give death penalty to anyone accused of drug trafficking. Other countries also hold such laws for anyone involved in drugs.

Being caught with illicit drugs such as heroin, benzodiazepines, alcohol, cocaine, hash, and cannabis leads the accused to be tried in accordance to the Controlled Substances Act in the USA. Imprisonment, loss of federal benefits such as student loans, heavy fines, and even confiscation of vehicles are the different punishments that are accorded to those found guilty.

The magnitude of the punishment for the accused is dependent on many things. These include the quantity of drugs that the accused is found with, the type of drug he had, the reason, or the circumstances under which, he/she was possessing the drugs, the evidence available of the drug trafficking, the amount of unreported income, and the extent of the criminal record.

The police and the law enforcement agencies are allowed by law to search your home and room without your permission, if they have the warrant. The drug prosecutors make sure that they dig out various other linked sources, which might expose the crime of the accused.

With increased rates and ways of crimes, people related to the drug trade sometimes implicate innocent persons in this crime. It is a personal and social responsibility of the citizens to be extremely cautious, particularly in public places like airports, academic institutions, shopping areas and other such places, where anyone can use them in their drug-related crime. Even if you are innocent but caught with drugs, you will find yourself in deep trouble. The law for keeping drugs does not take into account whether you are using the drugs yourself or distributing/selling it; its mere possession implies that you are committing a serious crime against the state and shall be judged by law.

Despite your innocence, you may still be charged with the crime if you possess drugs. The law is indifferent to whether you actually consume drugs, or not. It is only concerned with its possession, and is designed to punish both the consumer, and the sellers/distributors, so you would not want to be caught with drugs. If you are, then legally you will be facing charges in court.

There have been students accused of drugs possession who have had to go through criminal trials. This gave them a criminal record, and blocked them from all kinds of student loans from both the state, and the university. This may lead future problems such as getting and keeping a job, getting personal loans, and mortgages, prohibition from leaving the country in which you are living, and declination of visas to other countries, such as the United States. Depending on factors like the age of the accused, and the kind and quantity of drug in possession, the jail sentence could vary from a day to a year, and to twenty years. The extent of the crime also determines the fine, which ranges between two to twenty-five thousand dollars. The court may also take away the right to vote, and confiscate the driving license for a period of as long as ninety days, sometimes even more. - 29881

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