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In the state of Florida, approximately 38,000 criminal charges were filed for drug possession in 2002. Given current Florida laws, a drug charge could land you in serious trouble, and stick with you for the rest of your life. Here are a few facts you should know if you've been convicted of a drug-related crime.
Mandatory Minimum Drug Law
Florida is home to one cover-all law regarding drug charges. It does not matter whether you have a prior criminal record, if you require treatment, or what role you may have played in the alleged criminal activity. If you are accused of possession of over twenty-eight grams (28g) of illegal prescription drugs, for example, you are facing a charge that will include 25 years in prison. Whether you are a first-time offender or have a serious addiction is not taken into account, nor are distinctions made for violent and non-violent crimes. Twenty-five years is the law.
The penalties can be hard to face in other cases, as well. If you've been suspected of selling or cultivating illegal drugs, the minimum charge for over twenty grams is a felony, with five years of incarceration and $5,000 in fines. If you are accused of cultivating or selling within 1,000 feet of a school zone, this is bumped up to fifteen years, and twice the fines.
How A Conviction Effects You
Not only does having a criminal record limit you in regards to employment and real estate ownership, but in Florida, your driver's license can be taken away for any amount of time between six months and two years.
Another factor to keep in mind is that the mandatory minimum cannot be changed just for your case. In the event of a conviction, the judge must adhere to the laws in place, and the only alternative to the minimum is a higher fine and added years in prison.
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Source by Greg L Stevens
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