The usage, supply and trafficking of drugs are considered as serious offences against the law and may attract severe penalties if found guilty. The usage of drugs within the community not only destroys lives but contributes to numerous crimes hence, the regulating authorities try to ensure that if the accused is found guilty they receive condign punishment. Where the accused has been substantially involved in the supply of drugs a full time custodial sentence ought to be imposed unless there are exceptional circumstances: R v Gu [2006] NSWCCA 104. This stance taken by the courts is not only for specific deterrence but also for general deterrence – in an attempt to deter others within the community from becoming involved in the trade and usage of drugs. The help and support of a criminal lawyer is mandatory to fight cases where persons are accused of supplying or trafficking in drugs.
The maximum penalties for drug offences vary depending upon the amount and type of drug. No criminal lawyer would be able to promise a possible outcome of the trial but an experienced and efficient criminal lawyer may be able to advise in relation to the likely outcomes based upon the strength of the prosecution brief. Criminal drug lawyers would be able to advise the accused as to the relevant defences and of ways to possibly reduce the level of punishment. A criminal drug lawyer who has minimum failures reported in the history of service would be able to suggest the ways to tackle the situation when a person is caught for drug offences. The first step the accused should take when caught for drug offences is to find a proficient criminal lawyer. The criminal lawyer should be advised of all aspects of the case that the accused is directly or indirectly involved in. Lying to a criminal drug lawyer may make things worse and may result in cases where even the lawyer would not be able to help the accused. Proper follow up with the criminal lawyer on the happenings of the drug case is necessary.
The person accused of drug offences should be clear on the need to have a combined effort with the drug criminal lawyer to tackle the issues. Complete transparency between the accused and the criminal drug lawyer would make things easy for both and would help in proving the innocence of the accused.
Geoff Harrison is a criminal barrister practising at the NSW Bar in Sydney with extensive experience as a criminal lawyer, DUI & traffic offences, drug matters and apprehended violence orders (AVOs). Geoff has also worked as a Senior Criminal Lawyer for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.and read my other articles at DeclanDevin
You can read my other articles at DeclanDevin
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