Princeton Juvenile Marijuana Offense Lawyers
Juvenile Marijuana Offense
It's no secret that plenty of teens in New Jersey and across the United States experiment with marijuana at some point. This relatively common mistake can turn into an issue that may jeopardize the juvenile's entire future if they are charged with drug possession. If this happens to your child, you may feel angry, frustrated and hurt — but you need to secure the assistance of a reliable Princeton juvenile drug crime defense attorney.
The severity of the punishment for a NJ juvenile marijuana offense will largely depend on the quantity of marijuana seized by the authorities. In New Jersey, possessing less than 50 grams of marijuana is a misdemeanor, specifically a disorderly persons offense. An indictment by a grand jury is not required prior to prosecution. Juveniles convicted of possessing this amount of marijuana may face a fine of up to $1,000 and a sentence of up to six months in a juvenile facility. In some cases, a judge may reduce these penalties or agree not to impose them at all if the individual agrees to perform community service or participate in a drug treatment program. If the marijuana was in a pipe or authorities found drug paraphernalia, they can lay an additional charge against the accused juvenile. The penalties for this and possessing less than 50 grams of marijuana are the same.
Unfortunately for New Jersey residents, a single gram can mean the difference between a relatively minor misdemeanor charge and a felony conviction. Possessing more than 50 grams of marijuana carries the potential for much longer sentences of up to a year and a half with much higher fines, up to $25,000.
There are a number of other factors that can also influence sentences, including the following:
- Whether the defendant was cultivating marijuana
- Whether the authorities believe the defendant intended to sell the marijuana
- If the juvenile defendant has prior convictions
- If the juvenile defendant was operating a motor vehicle at the time of the arrest
- If the authorities suspect the defendant was selling marijuana close to a school or park
- If the accused committed other criminal acts while using marijuana
A juvenile detention facility is not the right place for a minor who made the admittedly irresponsible decision to experiment with marijuana but has never been in trouble in the past. However, without the services of a dedicated Princeton juvenile crime defense attorney, that's exactly where your teen might end up. The lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein will provide the defense that the minor needs against the charges. If police obtained the evidence in an unconstitutional manner, a judge might even decide to dismiss the case. Contact our firm to find out how we can help you.