Drug Crimes in Connecticut encompass a wide variety of illegal activity. Here is a list of the most commonly charged drug crimes in Connecticut:
- Sale or possession with intent to sell a controlled substance
- Illegal distribution of a controlled substance to a minor
- Illegal possession
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Failure to keep prescription narcotic in original container
- Illegal sale of narcotics
- Possession or Sale within a school zone
Connecticut treats drug crimes very seriously, and the penalties for a conviction for a drug crime can include mandatory jail time and heavy fines. If you face drug charges in Connecticut, you may want to speak to a drug charges attorney so that you can know exactly what potential exposure you have if you are convicted or are considering a guilty plea.
PENALTIES FOR DRUG CRIME CONVICTIONS IN CONNECTICUT; ILLEGAL POSSESSION AND POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO SELL
*Applies to any person who manufactures, distributes, sells, prescribes, dispenses, compounds, transports with the intent to sell or dispense, possesses with the intent to sell or dispense, offers, gives, or administers to another person one or more: preparations, compounds, mixtures or substances containing an aggregate weight of one ounce or more of heroin or methadone; an aggregate weight of one-half ounce or more of cocaine or one-half ounce or more of cocaine in a free-base form; or a substance containing five milligrams or more of lysergic acid diethylamide— except as authorized in this chapter—and who is not, at the time of such action, a drug-dependent person.
MIDDLETOWN DRUG CHARGES DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
If you have been arrested for a Connecticut drug crime and face drug charges in one of Connecticut’s superior courts, you may want to speak to an attorney with experience in fighting drug charges. An attorney may be able to identify any possible legal or factual defenses you have to the charges. For example, if you were arrested for a drug crime following a motor vehicle stop and your car was searched, a drug crimes attorney may be able to identify whether the search was legal and valid. Also, following your arrest, your attorney may be able to prove that you were not in actual or constructive possession of the alleged drugs.
Considering the harsh punishment one could face for a conviction it is important to thoroughly review all the evidence the State claims it has against you. Your drug crimes attorney will be able to obtain all of the State’s evidence, as well as investigate and obtain evidence in support of your defense.
DRUG DEPENDENT PERSONS
Connecticut drug crime law treats drug dependent persons vastly different from those who are not. For example, a person convicted of possession with intent to sell by a non-drug dependent person faces much longer jail time than a drug dependent person convicted of possession with intent to sell. In Connecticut, a drug dependent person is defined as one who “has a psychoactive substance dependence on drugs” as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association. Your drug crimes attorney may be able to show that you fit into this category and, therefore, should not be treated more harshly.
CONNECTICUT PRETRIAL DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM ATTORNEYS
Your attorney may be able to identify whether you are eligible for any of Connecticut’s Pretrial Diversionary Programs, as well as advise you as to which programs might be available to you based on your particular drug charges. For example, if you were arrested in Middletown for Illegal Possession under Connecticut General Statutes § 21a-279, you may be eligible for Connecticut’s Pretrial Drug Education Program. If so, and you are accepted into a program by the court, the charges against you may be dismissed.
Getting into a pretrial diversionary program following an arrest for a drug crime might make the difference between either facing jail time or and having your record free of a drug conviction. Obviously, this can have lasting repercussions on your personal life and job prospects.
If you are facing drug charges in Middletown, Hartford, Vernon, Rockville, Cromwell, Meriden, New Haven, Rocky Hill, Manchester, East Hartford or any Connecticut Town, please contact us to schedule a consultation.