A Team Of Attorneys Who Are Ready To Provide Tough Defense Against Illinois Drug Charges
The legal team at Shifrin Law Group in Chicago is ready to provide you with the skilled and experienced defense you need when you are facing drug charges. We have the specific knowledge and experience necessary to guide you through this legal process and can offer service in both English and Russian. We are dedicated to client-centered, results-driven representation.
What You Need To Know About Drug Charges
In Illinois, with the new and evolving changes in drug classifications and the changing legality for use of certain drugs, drug charges can be complicated and result in a complex legal process. Possession charges can be considered a felony offense or a misdemeanor offense, depending on the type of drug and the amount found in your possession.
Generally, the higher amount of illegal drugs results in more serious criminal charges that carry the risk of higher penalties. You may be forced to deal with probation, prison, property forfeiture and participation in drug treatment programs. If you are arrested for possessing even a small amount of a controlled substance, you could face severe consequences especially if you have prior convictions or are arrested around minors, firearms or near a school, church or park.
If you have been arrested for possessing an illegal drug or a controlled substance, it is crucial that you contact an experienced attorney right away.
What Is A Controlled Substance?
In Illinois, the Illinois Controlled Substances Act (720 ILCS 570/101) defines a controlled substance to mean “a drug, substance, immediate precursor or synthetic drug.” The controlled substances are divided into five different schedules based on a variety of factors, including their potential for abuse, how they are regulated and their approved medical use. Schedule I drugs are the most dangerous and have a higher potential for abuse. Schedule V drugs are the least dangerous and have the lowest potential for abuse.
Schedule I:
- Opiates, derivatives of opiates and hallucinogenic substances
- Illegal
- Have no medical use and are unsafe for use in medical treatment
- Examples include heroin, ecstasy and LSD
Schedule II:
- Highly regulated, only available by prescription from a doctor
- Have an accepted medical use, but use is severely regulated/restricted
- Examples include cocaine, methamphetamines (Adderall), oxycodone and morphine
Schedule III:
- Regulated, only available by prescription from a doctor
- Have an accepted medical use
- Examples include Vicodin and steroids
Is this your first offense for felony drug charges? If so, you may be eligible for 410 Probation.
- In Illinois, if this is your first drug charge, you may be eligible for 410 Probation. This probation allows individuals to avoid jail time by following a number of conditions, including random drug testing, community service and no criminal violations during probation.
- If you successfully complete the probation, your charge will be dismissed, and the charge may be cleared from your public record.
If you are arrested for a drug offense, you may be charged with one of the following offenses depending on the schedule and amount of the drug:
- Possession
- Possession with intent to sell/deliver
- Manufacturing
If you are charged with any type of drug charge, and you want to try to avoid lifelong consequences, it is essential that you hire an aggressive defense attorney who understands the broad spectrum of criminal charges.
We Are Committed To Fighting Drug Charges
Our team is prepared and practiced at skillful defense. We pursue the results that matter when we help you fight your drug charges. As with any criminal charge, the sooner you obtain quality representation, the more comprehensive your defense may be. We offer a free consultation. Call 312-766-4223 or connect with our team via our online form. Our founding attorney speaks fluent Russian, making us capable of serving you in either the English or Russian language.
