Florida Criminal Attorney Blog
Offenders caught with small amounts of most drugs could be sent to jail but not prison under a bill approved by a Florida Senate committee.
The Senate Criminal Justice Committee unanimously approved the bill on Tuesday. It would also give judges more leeway in sentencing drug dealers in some circumstances.
The legislation sponsored by Republican Sen. Rob Bradley would mean people possessing less than two grams of drugs other than fentanyl couldn’t be sentenced to more than 12 months in jail. Offenders would be held in county jails and not state prison.
Judges would also be able to depart from mandatory minimum sentences for drug dealers if they are non-violent, didn’t possess a gun and haven’t been previously convicted of a felony.
Incarceration of individuals that are convicted of non-violent crimes, like drug crimes, comes at a great cost to society. When a person is found guilty of a drug-related offense, but would be best served by treatment for addiction, the criminal justice system can actually perpetuate the problem. But the Florida legislature is giving strong consideration to reducing sentences for those convicted of possessing small quantities of drugs.
The state of Florida has many types of drug possession charges, most of which can be charged as a felony offense. Drug possession charges happen as a result of being arrested with drugs in your possession for personal use. However, depending on how much is found in your possession, you could be charged with possession with intent to sell, regardless of if you were actually selling drugs.
There are certain requirements that must be met to charge someone with possession. In order to be found guilty of a drug possession charge, the prosecution must prove the following elements in court:
- An illegal or controlled substance or drug was found on the person
- The person had knowledge of the controlled substance
- The person was in control of the drug or its location
Current Florida law makes possession of marijuana (under 20 grams) a first degree misdemeanor. If you are convicted of a simple possession of marijuana offense, the court may impose penalties of up to one year in jail and fines up to $1,000 Your driver’s license could also be suspended for two years.
Under Florida law, possession of cocaine is a third degree felony, with penalties that include up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. A conviction for cocaine possession will also result in a two year Florida driver’s license revocation.
Possession of a controlled substance in the state of Florida is charged as a third degree felony, and comes with penalties of jail time, probation, and thousands of dollars in fines. A controlled substance is defined as “a drug or chemical whose manufacture, possession, or use is regulated by a government, such as illicitly used drugs or prescription medications that are designated by law.” The penalties for possessing a controlled substance vary based on the drugs involved, and the amounts in your possession at the time of your arrest.
A conviction for any drug possession crime can follow you around for the rest of your life. This could be brought back up when you want to apply for a job, a student loan, or a lease. Even if it is your first offense, a possession charge of any kind is a serious charge that could result in a criminal record that will affect your future in some way.
Our Florida Drug Crimes Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton will do everything we can to get the charges against you dismissed or seek alternative sentencing, such as Pretrial Diversion or Drug Court. In certain cases, if you can pass through either of these programs successfully, the state will dismiss your possession charges. If trial is the only option for you, we can represent you in court and fight for the best possible outcome on your behalf.
Our Florida Drug Possession Defense Lawyers at Whittel & Melton are committed to helping those with a drug addiction problem get the treatment they need. If you are personally struggling with addiction problems or you are concerned family member trying to help a loved one with the underlying issues of their drug charge, we can help you explore your legal options for your criminal case as well as locate any addiction and recovery programs that could benefit you.
If you are charged with a drug possession crime in Florida, let us help you. We offer free case evaluations and will fight aggressively to help you protect your reputation and get your life back on track.