California has some of the most progressive drug laws in the country but they can still be harsh. If you are facing this type of charge then you are likely wondering how long you may be facing in prison and what other penalties you could be facing.
The best way to get answers about your specific case is to contact a drug crime lawyer in Irvine CA who can help with your case. You can reach Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation. In the meantime, read on to get information on how drug crimes are sentenced.
The drug classification has a large impact on jail time
California and the federal government follow a classification model for drugs. Every drug is included in a Schedule from I to V, depending on how dangerous the government considers the drugs to be. The Schedules are as follows:
- Supposedly the most dangerous drugs that have no practical use, such as heroin and LSD. However, marijuana is included on this list despite the wealth of evidence that it has medicinal uses.
- Drugs that can cause dependency but still have medical uses. This would include methadone, cocaine, methamphetamines, and opium.
- These are narcotics that have a moderate risk addition, such as ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone.
- Sedatives, tranquilizers, and clonazepam fall under this Schedule, which includes drugs with a slight dependency risk and that offer medical benefits.
- These are drugs that are deemed to have medical purposes and have either little or no risk of dependency. One example is Tylenol with codeine.
In most cases, a Schedule I drug is going to result in more serious punishment than a Schedule V drug but this is not always the case.
Potential jail time for various drug offenses
A judge has three options when deciding on a sentence, which we will cover below. The first number you see listed is the least amount of time they are allowed to dictate, the middle is the standard, and the third is what they are instructed to decide if there the situation is dire, such as the use of a firearm during a drug deal
Remember as well that your drug crime lawyer in Irvine CA can have a big impact on your sentencing. They can argue on your behalf for the lower sentence, to take the case through drug diversion, or to have the charges dropped entirely, depending on the situation. Following are some of the most common drug charges and their potential jail time:
- Possession of a controlled substance. 16 months / 2 years / 3 years
- Intent to sell. 16 months / 2 years / 3 years
- Distribution of drugs. 2 years / 3 years / 4 years
- Distribution of drugs to a person under the age of 18. 4 years / 5 years / 7 years
These are just a few of the drug charges you may face and their potential consequences. If you need answers to your particular case, contact a drug crime lawyer in Irvine CA right away. You can call Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free legal consultation.
