For a first-time drug offense in Salt Lake City, you may be able to avoid conviction by exercising your right to remain silent and hiring an experienced Salt Lake City drug crime lawyer. Depending on the nature of the charges, the amount of drugs involved, and the type of drug involved, there are a number of defense strategies an attorney can implement to try to avoid a conviction. At Blackley & Wingad, our defense team is ready to protect you.
If you find yourself charged with a drug crime in Salt Lake City, you want to hire a drug crime lawyer you can trust. At Blackley & Wingad, we have decades of trial experience and are ready to put that experience to use in your case. Whether you were arrested following a mistake made in Cottonwood Heights or after a night out with friends at a bar on Pierpoint Avenue, a drug crime conviction can change your life, and you need a defense team who can protect your rights.
First-Time Drug Offenses: What You Need to Know in SLC
In the United States, one person is arrested for a drug crime every 35 seconds, and while over 870,000 individuals were arrested on drug charges in 2023, Utah ranks last when it comes to states and overall drug usage.
In drug crime cases, Utah allows the court system to consider alternatives to jail time for certain drug possession offenses, especially if the individual has no prior criminal history. First-time offenses are also often eligible for diversion programs instead of jail time and the possibility of a permanent conviction. When these routes are possible, diversion programs are focused on supervision and treatment, rather than legal consequences.
In other cases, someone who has been accused of a drug crime for the same time might also be eligible to progress through drug court in Salt Lake City. Drug court, otherwise known as the Alternative Substance Addiction Program, can help first-time defendants avoid jail. The goal of drug court is to allow people space to recover and avoid further drug-related offenses.
Participants of drug court are required to follow strict rules that are similar to rules of probation. These rules can include:
- Having to attend regular treatment programs
- Having to regularly appear in court
- Submitting to drug testing on a frequent basis
However, just because this is a defendant’s first time being accused of a drug crime, it does not mean that they will automatically avoid jail time or that they might be able to avoid conviction. All of this, instead, will hinge on the ability and defense strategy of your lawyer.
What Happens in Cases of Conviction?
If you are convicted of a drug crime in Utah, it is important to be aware of the possible penalties you can come up against. Understanding these potential penalties can also help you make informed choices when it comes to your defense. These potential penalties include:
- Fines. If you are convicted of a drug crime in Salt Lake City, you could face extremely heavy fines, ranging from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands, depending on the offense, the drug involved, and the amount.
- Jail time. Certain drug convictions can result in significant jail time. Felony charges may lead to a convicted individual serving years behind bars, whereas misdemeanor cases can result in shorter sentences.
- Probation. Instead of jail time, a judge may decide to order probation, where the convicted party is required to meet certain conditions and refrain from drug use.
How We Can Defend You in a Drug Crime Case
The greatest chance at successfully avoiding conviction in a first-time SLC drug case comes when you hire an experienced lawyer. At Blackley & Wingad, we have handled hundreds of drug crime cases and know the legal defense strategies that can be used to help avoid conviction, especially in first-time cases. These strategies include:
- Having your rights violated by an illegal search and seizure
- Suffering a mistaken identity
- Lacking any kind of intent to distribute the alleged substances
- Lacking knowledge of the alleged drugs involved in your arrest
FAQs
What Are the Most Common Utah Drug Crimes?
In Utah, drug crimes are not taken lightly, and you need to hire an attorney as soon as you are able following an accusation and arrest. At Blackley & Wingad, our attorneys have experience defending clients in drug crime cases, including alleged drug possession, the possession of drug paraphernalia, alleged drug manufacturing or distribution, or alleged possession with intent to distribute.
How Can a Defense Lawyer Help Me?
In a drug crime case, your lawyer can be of service in many ways. They are there to explain to you the charges you’re facing, speak with the involved prosecutors to negotiate possible alternative sentencing methods or reduced charges, gather evidence and present facts to support your defense, and protect your rights throughout the case.
What Is Involved in a Charge of Drug Paraphernalia?
A charge of possession of drug paraphernalia can involve a wide range of items. For example, you may be arrested for this charge if you are found to be possessing syringes, bongs, or crack pipes. You may also be arrested if you have any of these items in your vehicle in plain sight during an ordinary traffic stop.
What Should I Do if Arrested for a Drug Crime in Utah?
If you are arrested for a drug crime in Utah, you need to remain calm and assert your right to remain silent. Do not try to evade arrest, but remain polite and cooperative, while also asserting your right to a lawyer. Do not make any statements until your attorney has arrived, and do not consent to any searches without a warrant present.
Hire a Drug Crime Lawyer Today
If you are facing drug crime charges, even if this is your first time, you need to hire a drug crime lawyer right away. At Blackley & Wingad, Attorneys at Law, PLLC, we have a record of success when it comes to seeking legal solutions on behalf of our clients, and we are now ready to turn our time, resources, and attention to you. Contact our Salt Lake City offices today, located at S. 700 E., to learn more and schedule a consultation.
