NEW JERSEY CRIMINAL LAWYERS

NJ NEW JERSEY PRESCRIPTION DRUG CHARGES

Facing Serious Consequences: A Guide to Prescription Drug Offenses in New Jersey

If you’re using or selling prescription medicines without proper authorization, you may face serious criminal charges in the state of New Jersey. The law considers prescription drugs like opiates, painkillers, and psychotropic medications as Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS), making it illegal to possess, distribute, or use them.

The penalties for violating the New Jersey prescription drug laws are severe. Even a small offense such as selling four doses of prescription medicine could result in up to 18 months of imprisonment and fines of up to $10,000. If you get convicted for any illegal use or distribution of such drugs, obtaining prescriptions by deception or forgery will also create long-term consequences that might affect your public assistance benefits or future job prospects.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Todd Spodek understand how grave these charges can be. Therefore they provide legal services focused on defending individuals against prescription drug charges. They have a rich source of knowledge and experience coupled with adequate resources that can help drop any allegations against clients or reduce sentences to include no jail time or substantial fines.

Common Prescription Drug Cases and Punishments

Committing any offense associated with prescription drugs in New Jersey could lead to numerous penalties depending on your crime’s severity and nature. Here are some common examples alongside their maximum punishment:

– Prescription Drug Possession / Distribution: Illegal possession holds even if the dose was not prescribed to you; hence selling prescribed medication could end with jail time plus hefty fines if caught illegally distributing five doses upwards is a fourth-degree offense punishable by an 18-month prison sentence plus fees reaching ten thousand dollars. Distributing one hundred doses or more is a second-degree violation subjecting one between 5-10 years imprisonment while facing fines surpassing three hundred thousand dollars.
– Prescription Fraud: It involves acquiring prescription medication through fraudulence such as presenting another person’s documents written under their name, among others. If convicted of such offenses, it carries a punishment of between 3-5 years in prison with fines surpassing fifty thousand dollars.
– Prescription Forgery: Writing down false prescription documentation for your personal benefit or someone else is illegal in the state of New Jersey. The offense is punishable by a maximum fine of up to $50,000 and jail time ranging from three to five years.
– Prescription Theft: Allows unauthorized access to prescription notes, forms, or steals them entirely for malpractice purposes; it carries a third-degree penalty if found guilty. This conviction will result in at least three years imprisonment plus fines exceeding $100,000.

It is essential to understand that New Jersey legislators and prosecutors take prescription drug crimes very seriously as seen from the severe penalties issued on the individuals committing these offenses.

Defending Prescription Drug Charges

Find an experienced attorney to help you with your prescription drug charges immediately should you find yourself in this predicament. Some reasons why pharmacologic cases sometimes go dismissed include challenging prosecutors’ evidence against you, finding loopholes in their argument or negotiations of charge downgrade.

The following are some common defense strategies:

– De minimis offense: Individuals arguing that they shared no more than six doses within 24 hours of authorized medicine with an injunction are viable defenses against lawsuits related to distributing medication illegally.
– Chain of custody issues: Should there be complications regarding evidence presentations involving correctly handling drugs or test outcomes, then said evidence would not stand during court proceedings.
– Illegal search and seizure process: Court orders must precede an individual’s stoppage and search procedures. An illegal search could lead to acquiring illegally obtained evidence thrown out mid-proceedings.

The Law Offices of Todd Spodek have experienced criminal defense attorneys who can build solid strategies geared towards creating credible defenses against any pharmaceuticals-related offenses leveled against clients. With their aid, one can sidestep harsh punishments and guilt convictions.

New Jersey Drug Possession Charges Options

The good news is that drug-related cases are treatable in the State of N.J. First-time non-violent offenders can join one of two state-offered rehabilitation diversions, namely:

– Drug Court: Includes intensive supervision programs involving court hearings and frequent drug testing with mandatory, specialized probation. Counseling is available for job training, education, and health care support throughout the recovery process.
– Pretrial Intervention (PTI): A rehab program which sees at least a year-long court-supervised residence. After successful completion of agreed-upon rehabs accompanied by random urine tests, defendants could have their charges dropped entirely.

New Jersey has recently launched a veterans’ diversion program designed to assist both currently serving military members and retirees who have mental health complications or may have been implicated in non-violent crimes.

Reach Out

Facing criminal charges involving prescription medication puts individuals between a rock and a hard place – Luckily Law Offices such as Todd Spodek can provide experienced attorneys specializing in treating pharmaceutical-related offenses. Enlist their legal help today in organizing your defense strategy while potentially avoiding harsh fines or lengthy imprisonment terms that come with these scenarios. Call them now to schedule an initial free legal consultation regarding your situation.