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Drug Crimes

Rosenberg | Perry & Associates is an experienced criminal defense law firm specializing in defending drug convictions for juveniles and adults.

If you are an adult or juvenile who has been charged with a drug crime in Burlington County, NJ it is important to obtain experienced and committed legal guidance. The following are potential drug charges in New Jersey:

  • Possession of CDS (Drugs) – N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10, 1st through 3rd Degree
  • Distribution of CDS (Drugs) – N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, 1st through 3rd Degree
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (Drugs) – N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5, 1st Through 3rd Degree
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute withing 1,000 feet of a School, 3rd Degree
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of Public Property, 2nd Degree
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia – N.J.S.A. 2C:36-2, Disorderly Persons Offense

The specific sentence you face upon conviction of a drug crime will be based on a variety of factors, including the type and the amount of drug that was associated with the specific crime. Drug Charges can range include a sentence to any of the following:

First Degree 10-20 years
Second Degree 5-10 years
Third Degree 3-5 years
Fourth Degree 18 months
Disorderly Persons 6 months
Petty Disorderly Persons 30 days

In addition to jail time, you may also be subject to random urine testing and inpatient drug treatment programs. Drug charges in New Jersey are often times accompanied by a drug problem or addiction, such as Opiate addiction. The Drug Court Program is a form of sentence that you can be required to participate in and graduate. In certain circumstances, you may be eligible for a “Conditional Discharge” or “Pre-trial Intervention Program”. Some common drug cases in New Jersey including:

  • Cocaine
  • Marijuana
  • Ecstasy/MDMA
  • Methamphetamine
  • Prescription drugs (Oxycodone, Xanax, etc.)
  • Heroin

Plain Smell Doctrine

In New Jersey, an individual does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy concerning odors exposed to the public.  Application of this concept often arises in cases involving the smell of marijuana.  In State v. Judge, 275 N.J. Super. 194 (App. Div. 1994), State Troopers lawfully stopped a vehicle for speeding and detected the odor of burnt marijuana after the driver opened his window.  When the troopers ordered the driver and his two passengers out of the car to search their persons for contraband, they found drug paraphernalia on the two passengers.

Later, focusing their attention to the car, the troopers found a bag of marijuana and two marijuana cigarette butts on the console, more of the drug inside a gym bag on the back seat and, with the driver’s consent, another marijuana filled gym bag in the trunk.  The court found that the smell of burnt marijuana was sufficient to establish probable cause to search the interior of the motor vehicle.

The court also held that the officer need not determine when the marijuana was smoked.  The odor alone justified the search.  The “plain smell” doctrine, a derivative of the “plain view” doctrine, applied in Judge has since been applied outside of a motor vehicle.  In State v. Vanderveer, 285 N.J. Super. 475 (App. Div. 1995), a police officer encountered two individuals on an outdoor porch and observed two individuals standing near the curb.  While on the porch, the officer detected “the distinctive odor of burnt and raw marijuana”.  Vanderveer, at 477.

The court, relying on the Judge case, held that the smell of marijuana gave rise to probable cause “to conduct a warrantless search of the persons in the immediate area from where the smell [had] emanated.”  Vanderveer, at 481.

Every individual in New Jersey entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy.  Citizens are all entitled to be free of unreasonable searches and seizure.  Every situation and circumstance requires its own analysis.  If your constitutional rights have been violated by an unlawful search or seizure, you may be entitled to the suppression of evidence and the ultimate dismissal of your criminal charges.

Straight possession charges in New Jersey is a Third Degree felony – that carries with it anything between 3-5 years in state prison, along with mandatory fines and penalties.

Attorney Daniel M. Rosenberg, 2021

Daniel M. Rosenberg, Esquire

Defenses to Drug Charges

A skilled drug charges lawyer will explore every element of defense for your case. For example, one common strategy is to examine law enforcement’s process of search and seizure. If you were charged after an illegal search and seizure, there may be avenues to reduce or eliminate penalties.

Your lawyer will likely investigate if law enforcement had probable cause in conducting their search, and in some cases may find their evidence is not able to be used in court against you.

You may have been arrested on drug charges because you were in the company of someone who had drugs. This also provides the opportunity for your lawyer to fight for your case that you should not be charged if the drugs did not belong to you.

Our Client Almost Became A Felon | New Jersey Criminal Lawyer | CASE STUDY

Hire a New Jersey Attorney to Defend Drug Charges

Drug charges can carry significant fines, penalties, and jail time that impact every area of your life. You could lose your job, face a criminal record, and struggle to find future employment if you are found guilty.

The team at Rosenberg | Perry & Associates are experienced in representing those facing drug charges in New Jersey. We will thoroughly examine your case, starting with a free consultation, and find ways to ensure you are treated fairly by the legal system. Contact us today by calling (609) 216-7400 to speak with our team.

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