Is Community Service An Option For Drug Charges In Fairfax County?
One common question that drug offenders have is if there any alternatives to jail time. The answer to this question rests upon the circumstances of the case.
According to Virginia laws, first time and non-violent drug offenders may be eligible for community service and/or probation as an alternative to jail.
The stipulations furthermore outline the following:
- Payments – offenders will be responsible for the cost of drug tests, assessments and overall treatments.
- Education – offenders must fully complete the courses outlined in the drug treatment program. A validation is typically issued by the treatment center.
- Employment – a fair effort must be maintained on the defendant’s part to be gainfully employed.
- Community Service – 24 hours must be completed for misdemeanor convictions, while felony offenses require 100 hours of community service.
Failure to abide by these terms will usually result in a finding of guilt.
Common Types of Drug Charges in Fairfax
Fairfax County is a popular place for drug-related arrests. Nevertheless, an arrest doesn’t have to lead to a conviction.
Common charges include simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as sales and distribution of narcotics, which is more serious than simple possession alone.
Sentencing or charges are usually determined by two factors in drug and bust cases:
- The Type of Drugs – each drug will have different schedules outlined by the United States Controlled Substances Act. The schedule is based on the level of addictiveness and abuse. Common examples of illegal drug use and possession include cocaine, heroin and opioids. Marijuana possession is only legal when it’s prescribed medically, and even so, quantities are limited.
- The Amount of Drugs – larger quantities of illegal drugs point to the sales and distribution of the same. These are typically felonies, with higher penalties at stake.
Drug Charges Include:
- Drug Possession – which is the deliberate possession of drugs like Xanax, heroin, cocaine, marijuana and other types of illegal narcotics.
- Drug Manufacturing – as the name implies, this is when someone knowingly and intentionally produces illegal substances.
- Drug Sales and Distribution – otherwise known as drug trafficking, occurs when small or large quantities have been advertised for sale, and/or transactions have been completed. Sales can also entail gifting the drug to someone else.
There are many defenses for drug charges, which as stated earlier, don’t always lead to a conviction. Furthermore, drug treatment programs along with community service, have been shown to provide more benefits to abusers and society. Programs feature tips for relapse prevention, self-esteem issues, aftercare and continuing care.
