A Brooklyn Drug Possession Lawyer can tell you that, in the boroughs of New York City, drug traffic has often been pervasive. The borough of Brooklyn has a wide variety of neighborhoods, some with heavy drug crime activity along with other criminal behavior. To prosecute Drug Possession and other types of Drug Crime, the Office of the District Attorney in Brooklyn cooperates closely with the District Attorney of New York County (Manhattan), Bronx County, Queens County, and Richmond County (Staten Island). At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, we will advise you that a conviction for Drug Possession can bring significant penalties, from prison time to heavy fines, and encourage you to speak with a Brooklyn Drug Possession Lawyer on our team as soon as possible if you have been arrested for a Drug Crime.

Each Brooklyn Criminal Lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates understands that a Drug Crime Conviction will likely have a very significant impact on your life if you are accused of it. In fact, each Brooklyn Drug Crime Lawyer on our staff will work to protect your rights, beginning with a free initial consultation. The penalties you can face for a conviction of Drug Possession will be determined by the type of drug that your case involves. Drugs are classified based on whether they have a high potential for dependency and abuse, and whether there is an accepted medical use for them. For example, a "Schedule I" drug is one which poses a high potential for leading to abuse and dependency, and for which no medical use is accepted—for example heroin and LSD. At the other end of the scale are "Schedule V" drugs—ones which have a low potential for abuse, a limited risk of leading to dependence, and a common medical use (for example, cough medicines containing codeine). The most severe penalties may be given if the drug involved in your case is Schedule I substance; the least severe may be given for a criminal act that involves a Schedule V drug.

A Brooklyn Criminal Lawyer will tell you that a charge of Drug Possession will occur when you intentionally possess one of the so-called "scheduled" drugs—in other words, a controlled substance—and have not obtained a valid prescription for it. The Office of the District Attorney in Brooklyn has to prove that you were aware that the drug is considered to be a controlled substance. They also must prove that you had actual physical possession of the substance. Guidelines for sentencing set forth a possible maximum jail sentence of 1 year for a first offense, 2 years jail time for a second offense, then up to 3 years in prison for a third offense.

You will need assistance from a skilled Brooklyn Drug Possession Defense Lawyer—a lawyer who is experienced at fighting Drug Crime cases—if you face a Drug Possession charge. At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, we are available to consult with you for free. We understand that a charge of Drug Possession might also involve other criminal charges. At the same time, we realize that sometimes a first-time offender can be referred to treatment programs rather than incarcerated. So there's the possibility that you may face counseling rather than jail time.

At Stephen Bilkis & Associates, we can help you navigate these aspects of your case to best preserve your rights. Contact us as soon as you can at 1 800 NY NY LAW for free initial advice. We are conveniently located not only in Brooklyn, but also in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and also the Bronx. You can also meet with us at our locations in the surrounding counties: in Westchester County, and in Nassau County or in Suffolk County on Long Island.