Criminal Defence Solicitors in Drugs Conspiracy Cases
Sentences in drugs cases are amongst the harshest penalties in the entire English criminal justice system. Those convicted of being involved in large-scale drugs conspiracies on conviction often receive sentences in double figures, sometimes in excess of 20 years. If you or a loved one have been arrested or charged in relation to a large-scale drugs case it is imperative that you seek out experienced and knowledgeable legal advice.
In large-scale drugs cases the courts and police usually push for defendants to be remanded into custody (prison) pending trial. If you have been charged with being involved with a large-scale drugs case and have been released on bail it may be because the police are carrying out further inquiries including covert surveillance.
If a defendant is remanded into custody in respect of a conspiracy allegation you will usually have only two attempts at obtaining bail. The first attempt will be when you appear before the Magistrates after being charged. The second will be before the Crown Court. If you are remanded into custody by the police after charge, the first bail application will occur before the Magistrates at the next court's sitting - which is usually the next working day.
If bail is refused at the Magistrates, your criminal solicitor will be able to apply to the Crown Court for a further bail application. This is essentially a review of the Magistrates decision and will allow for a more fulsome application to be made given your lawyer will have had more time to prepare. Either your criminal defence solicitor will appear to represent you at the hearing or they will instruct a criminal defence barrister to attend.
In drugs cases - given the potential length of sentence involved - the judge hearing the application will be very cautious before granting bail. The judge will want assurances that the defendant will not commit further offences whilst on bail, interfere with witnesses or abscond. It is the role of your criminal lawyer to persuade the judge that you can be safely released pending the conclusion of the case. Often in drugs conspiracies the judge will want to take a security or surety (money) to guarantee you will return to court. The amount depends very much on the means and position of the person offering the money; 10,000 pounds might seem a lot to someone on an average salary but to a millionaire it may not be so significant.
A security is where the money is actually lodged with the court and in the event bail is breached then the court may take some or all of the money. A surety is where the person guarantees an amount and states that they will ensure that the defendant will return to court and will notify the court if there are any suspicions the person is breaking their bail.
Sentences in respect of drugs cases vary depending on the type of case, the sentencing guidelines for producing drugs for example are different compared to cases involving only the supply of drugs.
Your criminal solicitor should be able to clearly and cogently advise you on the sentencing guidelines and advise you what range and category your case falls into. It is important that you understand this information as it will enable you to decide whether it is in your best interests to enter a guilty plea or proceed to trial. If you wish to plead guilty your lawyer should be able to negotiate a ‚¬"basis of plea‚¬ with the prosecutor which should aim to limit your involvement and lower the sentencing category and range that you fall into.
In large-scale drugs cases the courts and police usually push for defendants to be remanded into custody (prison) pending trial. If you have been charged with being involved with a large-scale drugs case and have been released on bail it may be because the police are carrying out further inquiries including covert surveillance.
If a defendant is remanded into custody in respect of a conspiracy allegation you will usually have only two attempts at obtaining bail. The first attempt will be when you appear before the Magistrates after being charged. The second will be before the Crown Court. If you are remanded into custody by the police after charge, the first bail application will occur before the Magistrates at the next court's sitting - which is usually the next working day.
If bail is refused at the Magistrates, your criminal solicitor will be able to apply to the Crown Court for a further bail application. This is essentially a review of the Magistrates decision and will allow for a more fulsome application to be made given your lawyer will have had more time to prepare. Either your criminal defence solicitor will appear to represent you at the hearing or they will instruct a criminal defence barrister to attend.
In drugs cases - given the potential length of sentence involved - the judge hearing the application will be very cautious before granting bail. The judge will want assurances that the defendant will not commit further offences whilst on bail, interfere with witnesses or abscond. It is the role of your criminal lawyer to persuade the judge that you can be safely released pending the conclusion of the case. Often in drugs conspiracies the judge will want to take a security or surety (money) to guarantee you will return to court. The amount depends very much on the means and position of the person offering the money; 10,000 pounds might seem a lot to someone on an average salary but to a millionaire it may not be so significant.
A security is where the money is actually lodged with the court and in the event bail is breached then the court may take some or all of the money. A surety is where the person guarantees an amount and states that they will ensure that the defendant will return to court and will notify the court if there are any suspicions the person is breaking their bail.
Sentences in respect of drugs cases vary depending on the type of case, the sentencing guidelines for producing drugs for example are different compared to cases involving only the supply of drugs.
Your criminal solicitor should be able to clearly and cogently advise you on the sentencing guidelines and advise you what range and category your case falls into. It is important that you understand this information as it will enable you to decide whether it is in your best interests to enter a guilty plea or proceed to trial. If you wish to plead guilty your lawyer should be able to negotiate a ‚¬"basis of plea‚¬ with the prosecutor which should aim to limit your involvement and lower the sentencing category and range that you fall into.
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