Should You Hire a Lawyer for Your Jacksonville Drug Case?

By Travis Reinhold | Published on September 27, 2011 | 0 Comments

If you’re in Jacksonville and have been charged with a drug crime that seem relatively minor like possession of a small amount of marijuana, you may be tempted to deal with it without the help of a Jacksonville drug crime defense lawyer. After all, hiring an attorney costs money and the consequences probably won’t amount to much anyway, right?

Wrong. The truth is, even minor drug charges on your record can have a major impact on your life. After being arrested for a small drug crime, you’re likely to be offered a plea bargain that seems like a quick way out of the system. Without a reputable Jacksonville drug crime defense lawyer on your side, you may agree to have these damaging charges on your record without even knowing it. You may only realize it when it’s too late and the real consequences are affecting your life and are nearly irreversible.

Travis Reinhold of the Law Office of Travis Reinhold, P.A. is a local attorney with a concentration in criminal law and drug crime defense in Jacksonville. With over nine years of experience, he’s seen many people come into his office after attempting to deal with drug charges on their own, only to realize they had signed up for more than they had bargained for.

“It can seem very convenient to just go along with things as they’re told to you; sign this paper, and you’re basically on probation. Show up in court, and return to your regular life. But when it comes to drug charges, there are a lot of hidden little consequences. Do you know what you’re really agreeing to?” asks Reinhold.

Agreeing to a plea bargain without legal counsel could mean essentially pleading guilty to drug charges that could stay on your record and seen by potential employers. Hiring a Jacksonville drug crime defense lawyer ensures you’re not blindly agreeing to years of a criminal record that could prevent you from landing a job or even driving your car.

“Many drug cases can affect the status of your license, even something as small as less than 20 grams of marijuana. Many people aren’t even aware of that and won’t find out until they’ve already plead out and then receive a notice from the DMV.”

These consequences are even more frustrating to people who have agreed to them and then spoken to a lawyer and realized there was a good chance their case could have been dismissed completely if they had the help of a skilled Jacksonville drug crime defense attorney. Because of the current state of the overworked local police department, many drug charges are easily thrown out entirely in court due to a number of factors: illegal search and seizures, sloppy arrests, and a lack of evidence.

“An experienced drug lawyer knows how to navigate the process and the system to ensure any chance to have your case dismissed is recognized and used to get the best possible outcome,” says Reinhold.

*Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. You should not rely on this article as a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances, and you should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel. Publication of this article and your receipt of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship.

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