HOW LONG MIGHT IT TAKE
TO RESOLVE A DRUG CASE?
According to the annual FBI Uniform Crime Report, there were an estimated 1,558,862 arrests for drug violations in the US in 2019. Of these arrests, 86.7% or 1,351,533 were for possession of a controlled substance. Only 13.3% or 207,328 were for the manufacture or sale of a drug.
In Ohio, more than 20,000 people are arrested each year for cannabis possession. You may need to have a criminal defense attorney with relevant experience and knowledge on the specific drug charges to represent you in court. A common concern for individuals arrested for possession is the duration that their drug case may take.
What’s the Time-Frame for The Resolution of A Drug Case?
There is no definite answer to the query. The length of the drug case may depend on several factors. It may take as few as sixty days if there are no motions to suppress and no trial. Some drug charges may take years to resolve.
One major factor is jurisdiction. Federal drug cases tend to be resolved in less than a year if the parties don’t proceed to trial or don’t have any complex discovery and suppression issues. State cases can go for longer, but often not much longer than a year.
Moreover, the drug charges laid against you may affect the facts of the case. You may face a drug possession charge, possession of drug paraphernalia, or possession with intent to sell, manufacture or deliver. You may need a drug offense attorney in Columbus to help you counter the charges against you. After analyzing the facts in your case, the lawyer may formulate legal defense theories, all of which may have an impact on the overall length and outcome of the case.
Another key factor is the court process. Hiring a drug offenses lawyer in Columbia can help you understand the typical processes for a drug-related case in Ohio. You may have an arraignment, pre-trial hearing, motion hearing, readiness hearing, a trial, or sentencing if found guilty. Your attorney may exercise some control over how quickly the case is resolved.
Obtaining the discovery from the state is one such way. Discovery may involve police reports, lab test results, witness interviews, or depositions. The ability to adequately assess your drug charges and formulate a legal defense theory may lie in the law firm’s capacity to go through the discovery volume, take depositions of any witnesses or hire expert witnesses to counter the prosecutor’s arguments. This may make your case drag along. For drug charges with relatively clear evidence, the case or trial period may be shorter.
Can Your Drug Charges Be Dismissed?
If your criminal defense lawyer wins a motion to suppress argument, and all or certain pieces of pivotal evidence may not be used against you, the charges may, in all likelihood, be dismissed. You may also agree to a pre-trial drug diversion granted a conditional discharge. Completing your conditional discharge may also see your drug charges dismissed. You may need to consult a drug offense attorney on the options available for your case.
People arrested for drug offenses often inquire about the duration that it may take to resolve the drug charges. The answer lies in the facts within the case. To discuss the circumstances surrounding your drug charge, reach out to Wolfe & Mote Law Group.