Criminal | Criminal Justice Reform

February 7, 2019

Prescription Drugs, Abuse, and Arrest

Drug arrest by police in Tampa, FL It is a sad truth that some deaths of famous personalities are attributed to drug abuse, such as the case of Prince. According to the Center for Disease Control, two million Americans abuse the use of Morphine, Fentanyl, and Oxycodone. Over the years, the number of people getting addicted to drugs is significantly increasing. Drugs can be very addictive that users will do everything to get one.

Certain drugs are used for medicinal purposes. One example is the Opioid painkiller, Oxycodone which is prescribed to make an injured person feel better. Abuse of the substance will happen if he or she no longer needs the medicine but still takes it for use or sells it to other people addicted to it. The person can also get immune to the medication which will lead for him to need higher doses which can cause accidental overdose. If, after the prescribed time of use, the person still uses the drug, he will be tolerant of the drug.

In other cases, people who are addicted to Oxycodone go to a different doctor once they no longer get prescription from their previous doctor, this way they can get the pill legally and use it or sell it to others. When they can no longer get the prescription from doctors, this is the time they turn to buy drugs on the internet or in the streets. Other drug abusers opt for the cheaper choice, heroin. If the person can no longer afford to buy the drugs, he may resort to doing illegal things such as stealing to get what he wants. It then becomes a sad and vicious cycle of drug abuse.

In most states in the U.S. peddling of drugs or possession of it will account for being arrested and paying fines. You will also lose your driver’s license. Depending on the type of medicine and the amount seen in your possession, prison time can be for a year or a lifetime. There will be a required drug test and counseling for the arrested. In the state of Florida, if you are caught possessing 5 grams of Hydrocodone, you can be charged with three years of imprisonment. If you’ve been found with the same grams of marijuana, this equals a penalty and a fine and is typically tagged as a misdemeanor and not felony.

People who are addicted to drugs can make desperate moves to get what they want. The following are some signs to watch for to know if a person is addicted to painkillers:

A sudden change in personality
An unnecessary increase of dose and usage of drugs
Withdrawing from social gatherings
Neglecting basic responsibilities
Doctor shopping for prescription
Sudden and alarming change in appearance such as looking exhausted or sick, or not caring for hygiene
Defensive and always angry

If you or any of your loved ones gets arrested for drug abuse or drug trafficking, you should call a reputable and trustworthy bail bonds company who will help you get out of jail as fast as possible. This bail bond company should be empathetic and set aside prejudice to help their clients get out of prison quickly.

February 7, 2019

Drug Manufacturing and Marijuana Bail Bonds

Immature marijuana plants under a grow light You are considered a drug manufacturer if you grow and create illegal drugs with the intention of distributing it. The prosecutors must be able to prove your intention to manufacture and distribute illegal drugs before you can be convicted.

If you’ve been charged with drug manufacturing, you will need to settle fines and custody. In this case, it is crucial to get yourself out of prison immediately so you can prepare for your court hearing with the help of a lawyer.

Examples of Illegally Manufactured Drugs:

Marijuana (Pot)
Methamphetamine
Prescription Drugs
Heroin
Cocaine
Ecstasy

What are Schedule I Drugs?

Certain drugs are used for medical reasons such as schedule III drugs. However, there are types of drugs like the schedule I drugs that are not used for medicinal purposes because of the potential danger it can bring. People who use such drugs can be addicted to it and abuse its use. The severity of the charge depends on the type of drug used. In some states like Ohio, creating meth is a felony crime, and the convicted should serve at least three years of prison time.

Can I be Arrested for Growing Marijuana in my Home?

In some states, the use of marijuana as a medical tool is welcomed. However, there are particular states such as Ohio where you will be charged if caught growing marijuana in your property. You can be charged with felony and time in prison.

How Much is Bail for Manufacturing Drugs?

There are certain factors to be considered for setting the bail amount for drug manufacturing. Bail amounts are not the same across all charges. Bail will depend on the type of drug manufactured, the cost and the number of offenses the person has committed. If you get caught with the possession of a weed plant weighing less than 100g, a bond may be unnecessary, but you will be fine for a misdemeanor that typically costs $150. However, if you are caught with 40 plants, you can expect for a much higher bail amount.

How do Bail Bonds Work?

A bail bond is offered by a bond company that is being taken care of by a bail bondsman. The judge is typically the one who sets the bail. If the arrested person cannot provide the amount, he then goes to a bail guarantor who can handle the bail. In most cases, the convicted should pay the bond company 10% of the total bail amount.

Why Are Bail Bonds Set?

Bail is an amount of money set by the court to ensure that the defendant will return to the court during his or her court hearing. Once the bond is posted, then the defendant can go home and prepare for his future court proceedings. If the defendant fails to return or show up in court, the bond company will be the one to pay the bail amount.

Bail can be paid in cash, however, most often than not, they are set at a high amount, that defendants cannot pay them on their own, so they go to a bail bond company.

February 7, 2019

Prescribed Medications and the Criminal Booking Process

Being arrested can be one of the most stressful situations you will ever face in your life, especially the booking process. You will feel more anxious if you need to take your prescribed medications at a scheduled time. It will add to your stress just thinking if you can have your medicine while waiting for the booking process to finish.

We have listed some of the things that you can expect when you have prescribed medication to take during the booking process, so you will know what to do in the given situation.

What to Expect

Once you are arrested, you can expect some events will happen as the booking process commence.

Confiscation of Medication

The police will get your personal information such as your name and physical attributes to begin the booking process. Every important detail about your arrest will be recorded as well as your background check, your photo, and they will also scan your fingerprints.

They will then confiscate any personal things you carry with you, including your prescribed medications. They should provide you with a receipt of your property to ensure that your valuables will be given back to you when you get out of jail.

Examination by a Medical Professional

Some states require every defendant to go through a medical exam run by a medical professional to check for any medical and mental condition. However, these exams may not happen immediately after booking. It can occur after days of your arrest.

What to Do If You Need Prescription Medication

If you will need to take certain medications, but the police confiscate them, consider the following tips to help you.

Disclose Your Condition

You should tell anyone in authority about your condition, whether it’s the police or medical personnel. It is crucial that they keep this in your police records as well as for your health, so don’t keep it a secret. This should be recorded in your Medical Treatment of Prisoner form that should be with you in the entire booking process.

Bring Your Medication

When you are aware that you will be arrested, you should never forget to bring your medication with you. Although the authority will have to confiscate it, they will record the details in your Medical Treatment of Prisoner form once they have it on hand. You should ask a family or a friend to bring it to you if you don’t have it with you.

Assert Your Rights

These tips can be helpful to get your medication faster after the booking process has been completed. But if you’re still being processed and you feel something wrong in your body, you should assert your right to be treated for your medical condition. If necessary, you should be taken to the hospital or emergency room to attend to your medical needs at once.

Get Out Fast

More than anything else, it is essential that you get out of jail as fast as you can to avoid aggravating your medical condition. Call a bail bonds company to assist you in expediting the process.