Enforcement of DC Drug Offenses

Drug crimes are treated in a variety of ways in Washington, DC. In many situations, simple drug possession charges can be handled through negotiations with prosecutors in favorable ways. Experienced drug lawyers familiar with the DC court system and laws can negotiate with prosecutors and advocate with judges for favorable resolutions of drug possession cases, even in situations where people face multiple drug possession drug charges or have a history of drug possession cases.

Role of Local Law Enforcement

The laws, judges, and prosecutors in the District are currently more sympathetic now to people with the enforcement of DC drug offenses that include drug addiction. They are open to negotiating and have less reliance on seeking convictions and jail time for people who suffer from the issues of drug dependence and addiction. In these situations, defense lawyers can frequently negotiate for favorable resolutions for drug possession cases that sometimes result in these cases being dismissed and the person charged with a drug offense maintains a clean criminal record to minimize any impact on their jobs and lives.

Drug distribution and possession with intent to distribute cases are different. These are most often felony cases where prosecutors are more aggressive in charging these cases. Judges do not treat them as leniently as situations for someone with addiction issues or in possession of controlled substance for their own personal use. There are many circumstances in which drug distribution and possession with intent to distribute can be presented in more sympathetic ways.

In areas where unemployment is high and jobs are difficult to come by, some people find themselves in a situation of needing to deal drugs for a limited time to make ends meet. There are circumstances in which drug distribution and the possession with intent to distribute drugs can be presented in the context of a person’s life circumstances rather than someone harming others to make a quick buck. Different people have different life circumstances. It is important for DC lawyers to make sure those circumstances are presented to prosecutors and judges to minimize their client’s culpability and in doing so, try to minimize the penalties.

Local Drug Offenses

Drug offenses occur in every part of the country including rural, urban, and suburban areas. Simple possession of drugs, drug distribution, and possession with intent to distribute drugs are found in any urban area with a large population. There are relatively high numbers of drug offenses because the population is larger in Washington, DC. Drug possession, possession with intent to distribute, and actual drug distribution take place in every neighborhood and quadrant of Washington, DC. It is not necessarily limited to certain areas.

Local enforcement of DC drug offenses may focus on some areas compared to others. However, individuals are charged with different levels of felony and misdemeanor drug cases in every part of the city from college campuses to downtown DC. There is no specific type of area or neighborhood where police do not make arrests for drug offenses in the District.

Aggressive Prosecution of Possession Charges

DC prosecutors and police officers have become less eager to aggressively prosecute minor drug possession charges. People are still arrested on allegations of simple possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and PCP all over the city. These charges are less of a focus for DC prosecutors and police. Even when people are arrested for simple possession, prosecutors do not focus their resources too heavily on these kinds of cases. They are often eager to work out resolutions that enable the person to seek treatment through probation or diversion programs to avoid using considerable prosecutorial resources on simple possession cases.

DC prosecutors still place resources for the enforcement of DC drug offenses and possession with intent to distribute cases. Federal prosecutors also use significant resources on these cases to charge drug trafficking, larger quantity distribution, and intent to distribute cases. Federal statutes on trafficking and distribution are much harsher when it comes to penalties than the local DC laws. When a person is charged in federal court with distribution, trafficking, or possession with intent to distribute, prosecutors in those situations are not nearly as eager to work out favorable arrangements compared to prosecutors in local DC cases.