Schaumburg Drug Possession Lawyers

Hoffman Estates Drug Charge Defense Attorneys

A conviction for possession of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, ecstasy, fraudulent prescriptions, or any other controlled substance can have a destructive effect upon your life. In fact, it can affect employment opportunities, as well as your ability to receive student loans, apply for certain licenses, and/or obtain security clearance. Moreover, it can also lead to the forfeiture of your car, house, or other property, if the police believe the property was connected to the drug crime. At Glasgow & Olsson in Schaumburg, Illinois, we have the extensive experience to help you meet the challenges of an arrest on drug charges.

The majority of misdemeanor drug possession charges involve a small quantity (less than 30 grams) of marijuana. Marijuana possession can range from a Class C misdemeanor (punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine), to a Class A misdemeanor (punishable by up a year in jail and a $2,500 fine).

Almost all other drug possession charges are felonies, ranging from Class 4 (punishable by one to three years in the state penitentiary), to a Class X (punishable by six to thirty years in the state penitentiary).

Defending you against a drug possession charge

There are two issues that a lawyer needs to address in almost every drug possession case:

• Whether you had actual possession of the drugs on your person, or whether you had constructive possession, meaning the drugs were found in your car, house, desk, or other property
• Whether the officer had probable cause to search you

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. As individual rights are highly valued in this country, our lawyers have been very successful in challenging drug arrests based on improper searches and invalid search warrants.

A large number of drug arrests result from a traffic stop or other such encounter with the police. In making these stops, police sometimes act on hunches, which may not rise to the level of probable cause. Moreover, even if probable cause did exist, but the police search was improper, our lawyers can file a motion to suppress the drug evidence.

If we are able to defeat the drug possession charge and you do not have a prior criminal record, we can seek to have the arrest expunged, or cleared from your record.

We want to hear about your case to see how we can help you. Contact our Schaumburg law office to schedule your initial consultation. Se habla español. Please call 847.577.8700.