Category Archives: Drug Charges
Marijuana Legalization Efforts Stall, Advocates Push On
Although the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is beginning to seem amenable to the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes and the overall movement on the issue is trending toward broad legalization, the House does not yet seem ready to sign on to a bill that recently passed the Senate. While the Senate bill took almost […]
What Leads to a Charge of Possession with Intent to Deliver?
More than a dozen suspected drug dealers were nabbed in an early-morning raid in Berks County on September 3, 2014, in what officials are calling a response to concerned citizens. The 13 arrested individuals are believed to be low- to mid-level dealers of heroin, cocaine and marijuana. All but one of them is charged with […]
Prescription Crimes in Pennsylvania
Not all drug crimes involve back-alley dealings and hard-core street narcotics. Prescription fraud is also a serious offense. Yet people all too often assume that a controlled substance crime is somehow less serious because it involves a drug with legitimate medical uses. Nevertheless, drug offenses involving prescribed pills have emerged as a growing problem to […]
Drug Treatment Courts Hailed as Successful
Drug and alcohol treatment courts clearly depart from the traditional judicial model. Nevertheless, their effectiveness in preventing recidivism and promoting true rehabilitation has been noted in nearly every jurisdiction where they are used. In Berks County, the Drug/Mental Health Treatment Court program began operation in 2005 to target a population of non-violent probation and parole […]
School Zone Enhancement is Broader than You Think
Many individuals arrested for possessing or distributing drugs are surprised to learn they are being charged with possession in a school zone. They adamantly contend that they did not know a school was nearby, that school wasn’t in session or that they had no intention to sell to students. What they do not realize is […]
Unexpected Charges for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious charge in Pennsylvania. Many a person has been somewhat surprised to face DUI charges after being stopped driving home from a restaurant or bar. One drink too many is all it takes. However, the rules governing controlled substances and the operation of motor vehicles are even harsher. […]
PA Supreme Court Limits Sentence Enhancement for Drug Crimes Involving Guns
Pennsylvania sentencing guidelines are much more than just a list of ranges for specific offenses. They are a labyrinth of enhancements, minimums and caveats that laypeople consistently struggle to understand. In operation, these rules can have a significant impact on the sentence a person receives and can also steer the course of plea negotiations. That […]
The Five Types of Pennsylvania Drug Charges
Pennsylvania drug laws are tough and often carry severe penalties, including mandatory sentencing. The law recognizes a wide spectrum of drug infractions and crimes, from misdemeanors — such as being caught with a small amount of marijuana on your person — to felony drug trafficking charges. Because there are so many circumstances that can affect […]
What Are the Signs of DUID?
Since 2004, Pennsylvania has been training municipal police and state troopers as drug recognition experts (DREs). The signs that may indicate someone is driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) are not always the same signs someone driving inebriated may display. Unfortunately, most law enforcement officers do not get DRE training, and many DUID arrests […]
How PA Sentencing Reforms Affect Nonviolent, Drug-Addicted Offenders
In July 2012, the Pennsylvania legislature passed Senate Bill 100 to address how the commonwealth correctional system handles nonviolent offenders with drug and alcohol addictions. This was a welcome move away from harsh minimum sentences. The reforms included: Risk assessments guidelines instituted to help courts separate high-risk offenders appropriate for state prison from lower-risk offenders […]
