Select a city or county to find Pennsylvania Drug Crime lawyers near you.
Drug crime charges vary depending on jurisdiction and specific state laws, as well as how drugs are classified. Penalties for drug crimes can include fines, probation, or imprisonment. Common drug crimes include:
Laws and definitions of both crimes can vary by jurisdiction. Consulting with an experienced drug crime attorney can help you understand the laws in your area. While both drug distribution and drug trafficking involve illegal drugs, the differences are in scope and scale.
Drug Distribution focuses on local level selling and transfer of illegal drugs, typically within a community, and involve smaller amounts. There is less planning and organization to distribute and carried out by individuals or small groups.
Drug Trafficking focuses on large-scale movements with complex networks, financing, and logistics. Often, drug trafficking comes with a minimum quantity threshold for specific drugs. Due to the potential for greater harm, penalties are much harsher.
Illegal drugs are classified on several factors. These include the potential for abuse, accepted medical uses, and safety considerations. Classification is outlined in a drug schedule, established by national or regional drug control authorities.
Schedule I – Higher potential for abuse, with no accepted medical use in some jurisdictions
Schedule II - Higher potential for abuse, may have accepted medical use with severe restrictions
Schedule III - Lower potential for abuse, have accepted medical uses and may lead to moderate dependence
Schedule IV - Lower potential for abuse, have accepted medical uses and may lead to limited dependence
Schedule V – Lowest potential for abuse, have accepted medical uses and may lead to limited dependence
Expungement is the legal process of removing or sealing of criminal records, making them unavailable to the public. The ability to expunge a drug conviction from your record depends on state laws where the conviction occurred. These laws can vary widely, across jurisdictions. Common factors that can influence expungement of a drug conviction include:
Because laws vary across jurisdictions, it's important to learn about the law to protect your rights and explore your legal options.
Articles -
Drug Possession Overview - FindLaw
Drug Cultivation and Manufacturing - FindLaw
Drug Trafficking and Drug Distribution - FindLaw
Blogs -
FindLaw Legal Blogs are here to be your one-stop shop for legal news and information, presented in an easy-to-understand way.
We offer a wide range of blogs written by legal professionals, covering:
• Legally Weird: Read about strange lawsuits, dumb crimes, celebs getting into trouble, and anything else we find offbeat.
• Everyday legal issues: Get insights on family law, real estate, employment law, immigration, and more.
• Stay informed: Our "Law and Daily Life" blog keeps you up-to-date on the latest legal news and trends.
• Deeper dives: Explore specific areas like criminal defense, small business law, personal injury, estate planning, and consumer protection.
You've come to the right place. Sometimes substance abuse treatments don't work, and these people find themselves facing drug crime charges.
If you suffer from addiction or substance abuse and have been arrested for a drug offense, an experience drug crimes attorney can help.
Use FindLaw to hire a local drug crimes attorney near you to help prevent a multi-year jail sentence.
There are a variety of reasons you might need to find a lawyer in Pennsylvania, from facing criminal charges to filing a lawsuit or even just buying a house.
If you are facing criminal charges, it is extremely important to be represented by skilled legal counsel. Not only can retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney increase your chances of a favorable outcome if your case does go to trial (improving your odds of attaining an acquittal), but also if you opt to negotiate a plea deal or to plead guilty, a lawyer can ensure you are treated fairly within the boundaries of the law.
On the other hand, if you are looking to file a legal claim of any sort, it is equally advisable to find a Pennsylvania lawyer familiar with your type of legal matter. Attorneys have spent years (if not decades) of their lives in pursuit of the knowledge and skills necessary to best represent their clients in court proceedings. Legal jargon, obscure precedent, existing and newly passed statutes and other elements of the legal process demand that a professional lawyer is always capable of seeking the best possible outcome.
While representing yourself in court can sound like a good idea on the surface, particularly given the relative cost of retaining legal counsel, it is almost universally considered to be a poor idea. No amount of quick research can act as a substitute for the skills and experience that lawyers attain through working several years in the court system.
Finding the right Drug Violations attorney starts with knowing what to evaluate. When reviewing Pennsylvania attorney profiles, consider the following:
Make informed decisions with useful legal information.
Learn About the Law articles clearly explain what you need to know about a wide variety of legal issues. You'll also find answers to common legal questions and case summaries to explore.
Read about choosing and retaining legal help with FindLaw's Guide to Hiring a Lawyer.
Our Guide to the U.S. Legal System explains legal basics including federal and state court systems.