New Jersey Drug Crime Defense Lawyers
Drug Crime Statistics
New Jersey has one of the nation's highest rates of incarceration for drug crimes. According to the independent research organization New Jersey Policy Perspective, 33 percent of New Jersey prisoners are imprisoned for drug-related crimes, triple the number in 1986. By contrast, the percentage of those imprisoned for violent crimes has actually dropped, from 61 percent in 1986 to about 40 percent today. The national group Drug Policy Alliance estimates that New Jersey spends $331 million a year to lock up nonviolent drug offenders. That organization and others suggest that the state's mandatory minimum sentencing for drug offenses is to blame.
Nationally, about 25 percent of all prisoners were being held for a drug offense, according to the U.S. Bureau of Drug Statistics. Of those, 10.8 percent were in jail for simple possession; 12.1 percent were imprisoned for drug trafficking; and 1.8 percent were there because of another drug offense. This excludes inmates who were convicted of a drug crime along with a more serious crime.
Among state prisoners, 21 percent were in prison for a drug crime in 2002. The number of drug offenders in state prisons rose by 15 percent between 1995 and 2001. Black and Hispanic prisoners were more likely to be held for a drug crime than white prisoners. Among federal prisoners, 55 percent were in prison for drug crimes in 2003. Fourteen percent of federally confined juvenile offenders were confined for drug offenses. Juvenile drug offenders served more time on average, 21 months, than juvenile violent offenders, who served an average of 17 months.
According to a 2005 federal survey on drug use by the U.S. Bureau of Drug Statistics, 112 million Americans have tried a drug at least once in their lives. Fourteen percent had used a drug sometime in the last year, while 8 percent had used one in the last month. Drug use was most common among people ages 18 to 25, with 28 percent of people in that age range reporting that they'd used marijuana in the last year, and 6.9 percent reporting cocaine use in the last year. Data from the Bureau found that the percentage of Americans who said drug use was the most important issue facing our country dropped from 27 percent in 1989 to 1 percent in 2004. A National Opinions Research Center poll found that 34% of adults 18 or older said in 2002 that marijuana should be legal.
Unfortunately, New Jersey drug law has not caught up with public opinion, or taken the high cost of incarceration into account. If you're facing a drug crime charge, you're facing mandatory jail time, high fines and a possible future as a convicted felon. That's why it's essential to call Lependorf & Silverstein as soon as possible after learning you may be charged with a drug crime.
The Princeton New Jersey drug crime defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein have practiced criminal defense law in New Jersey for 15 years. We understand the tricks, legal and otherwise, that prosecutors use to build their cases, and we know how to break them down to destroy the case against you. Our lawyers will do everything they can to get the best possible outcome of your case, whether that means smart negotiation with prosecutors or a vigorous defense in a court of law. And because we offer free consultations, there's no risk in speaking to one of our experienced New Jersey drug crime defense attorney about your case and your legal rights.
If you or a loved one has been accused of a drug offense in New Jersey, contact Lependorf & Silverstein today for a free consultation.