There is a lot at stake when you are facing heroin possession charges. Not only is your freedom on the line, but so is your reputation and possibly your personal and professional relationships. Criminal charges like these can have lasting repercussions, those that should be avoided whenever possible.
Because heroin is one of the most addictive drugs in existence, Michigan lawmakers, judges and prosecutors are most often concerned with penalizing heroin offenders as severely as possible. They want to dissuade people from breaking the laws and they see you, as the common drug user (in their eyes), as a good place to start.
Whether you have a heroin problem or if the drugs weren’t even yours, you stand to lose a lot with a case like this. Fortunately, we may be able to help.
You do not have to be caught with heroin in your pocket or hand to be charged with heroin possession.
On the contrary, if the heroin is within your reach or even somewhere on your property, you could be the person that is charged. This means that someone could hide heroin under the seat of your car or under your front porch and avoid prosecution while you are the one who is blamed.
Michigan Heroin Possession – Laws & Penalties
Under Michigan law, heroin is classified as a Schedule I drug. This is the most addictive and dangerous classification. Because of this, it is penalized more severely than some other drugs.
If you are accused of possessing less than 50 grams of heroin, you will face felony charges and up to 4 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
Possession Defense Strategies
Not all heroin possession cases go to trial. And of the few that do, even less end in a conviction. In other words, you still have options. By counseling with a local defense attorney you can plan the most strategic defense approach for your particular situation.
Most cases end in a plea agreement. This is where you agree to plead guilty to the charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence. Often you can avoid jail time in this manner.
If this is your first offense, the judge may be willing to suspend any jail sentence to allow you to serve probation in lieu of prison time.
Finally, if there are drug courts in your area, you could have your case handled here. These courts require things like drug treatment and frequent check-ins, focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment.
If you are accused of possessing heroin, contact our attorney today. We can offer you a free consultation on your case and some potentially valuable legal advice.