As many parents of teenagers know, their children often get into trouble that they should know better about. Teenagers are notorious about doing things that are a bad idea, taking risks and often engaging in illegal activities. Teenagers like to experiment, and many try drugs and alcohol. Sometimes teenagers get in over their heads in a drug situation with drug charges and parents are left wondering what they can do.
Most minors have little experience with the criminal justice system. When a minor is facing drug charges, they don’t know what to do. Teenagers who are facing drug possession charges need to know that they may also be facing serious penalties. Penalties for minors charged with drug possession include up to one year of jail and $1,000 in fines for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana. If a teen has more than an ounce of marijuana it is considered a felony and they can face up to 10 years in jail. Other drugs that are Schedule I or Schedule II have a prison term of potentially two to 15 years. In addition, if the teen was arrested near a school or playground, the penalties are even more serious.
Parents and their teens need to understand the seriousness of a drug possession crime. If a teen is found guilty of drug possession it can affect them for many years and in some cases for the rest of their lives. Their college admission may be denied, they may be kicked out of college, they may not be eligible for professional schools or college sports, along with not being eligible for many scholarships.
If a family is facing drug charges, they may want to speak with a legal professional who is skilled in criminal defense. An attorney understands what is on the line for these families and will fight to make sure their client’s side of the story is heard.
