Athens-Clarke County, GA Marijuana laws

GA, together with the other 49 states, has taken a tough stance in the war on drugs. Georgia’s marijuana laws are harsh. The legal effects are perhaps far more severe than you’ve ever imagined. If you’ve charged with a marijuana connected crime, it is important that you find a lawyer experienced in defending marijuana charges. Selling, buying, using and growing marijuana are all illegal in Athens-Clarke County, GA . When you are convicted of a marijuana offense, you will be sentenced to prison time and a large fine. The severity of the penalty differs based on numerous factors. Quantity is one factor that is considered when deciding the penalty.

A marijuana possession Athens-Clarke County, GA with intent to distribute charge attracts some especially severe penalties. This felony crime includes prison term and even fines starting in the thousands. If you possess a huge quantity of drugs, you may be slapped with this charge even if you had no intention of distributing the marijuana. In such cases, intent depends on the quantity of marijuana in your possession.

Selling marijuana or growing marijuana Athens-Clarke County, GA also results ina tougher penalty. The location of where you are accused of marijuana selling is an important factor. A conviction for sale of drugs near a school will attract more serious punishment. If you have had one or more past marijuana convictions, you may spend more time in prison or pay even greater fines.

If you have been charged with a marijuana crime in Athens-Clarke County, GA contact a marijuana defense attorney immediately.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Athens-Clarke County, GA Marijuana law firm

Marijuana regulations are different in every state. It is important to know the subtle differences. Buying, selling, using or growing marijuana is illegal in all states of the US. Penalties vary from place to place, however typically include prison time, a fine or both. In few states, you will be arrested for simply being in a place where you know drug activity is taking place. The severity of the penalty varies based on many factors:
• Quantity – Penalties differ based on the quantity of marijuana recovered from the person’s possession.
• Selling – Penalties are more severe for those intending to sell.
• Growing – Penalties are much severe for those cultivating cannabis.
• Location – A person arrested for selling marijuana near a school will usually face severe penalties.

If you’re caught with marijuana, you will receive a huge fine and/or go to prison. When you are caught more than once, or when looks like you’re likely to sell the drug, the punishment is harsher.

Athens-Clarke County, GA has strict marijuana laws. If you have been charged with a marijuana crime, contact a marijuana defense lawyer immediately.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Madison County GA Juvenile Expungement procedure criminal defense lawyer

Advantages of Having Your Juvenile Record Expunged in Athens GA

The whole procedure for expungement requires about 90 days. Again this differs from state to state. When the order has been passed, the record keeper has to inform you and the court that the order has been signed. This should be done within 60 days from the date of the order. However this time period varies from state to state. Ensure that you receive this information. You must not assume that your records have been expunged till you receive this information from the custodian.

Ensure that you apply for and obtain a certified copy of the order.

Benefits of Having Your Records Expunged:

You get your driving privileges and rights restored.
Your employment opportunities improve. You can answer no on employment applications on questions on criminal records.
You once again get access to numerous professional licenses.
law enforcement are not permitted to use expunged records to enhance any future charge.

If your application for expungement is permitted then it is legally considered as if the conduct never occurred. You will have all privileges and rights restored and be completely exonerated.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Madison County GA Juvenile Expungement procedure criminal attorneys

Madison County GA Juvenile Expungement procedure

When you file your petition, it is sent to the States Attorney and the concerned law enforcement authority. If the both of them do not object to your petition, the court will pass an order of expungement of all police and court records about the charges against you. There is a time limit for objection by the States Attorney and the law enforcement agency. This time limit differs from state to state.

If either of them opposes to your petition, the court will hold a hearing and will inform you the date of the hearing. On the hearing date, you must attend the court and argue your application. If you successfully argue your application, the papers are dispatched to the Expungement Clerk who sends it to the State Bureau of Investigation which conducts an extensive criminal records check in all counties. The papers are then sent to the Administrative Office of the Courts to verify if an expungement was previously done. In many states you can request expungement only once in your lifetime. Once the court confirms that you have not received an expungement in the past and you have not been convicted of any felony or misdemeanors, other than a traffic violation, the court will issue an order directing expungement of all police and court records concerning the charges against you and direct that all law enforcement agencies having record of the same expunge their public records.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Athens-Clarke County Georgia Juvenile Expungement criminal law law firm

Juvenile Expungement rules in Athens Georgia

Expungement means the removal of police and court records from public inspection. Your records are not be physically destroyed, but they will be sealed and considered as confidential.

To expunge a DUI conviction in simple terms means to seal or destroy your conviction records. It is possible to expunge your DUI conviction legally and by inherent judicial authority. In expungement, the court orders the sealing or erasing of the legal record of an arrest or conviction. The record is sealed or erased in the eyes of law. It is as if the arrest or conviction never occurred.

The eligibility for expungement and the process varies from state to state. But the typical eligibility criteria are:
1. You must be a first time offender.
2. A certain amount of time must be over between conviction and seeking the expungement of that conviction.
3. You should have no pending criminal charges when you make the request.
4. You should have been rehabilitated.

You must either by yourself or through a criminal defense lawyer representing you should request the court for expungement of all official public records of your arrest and conviction. A petition for expungement must be on the standard form which is available at the county court where you were convicted.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Athens Georgia Juvenile probation criminal lawyer

Oconee County Georgia Juvenile probation rules

Probation is widely used in Juvenile Court, as you may expect in a court where the primary goal for its existence is the rehabilitation of the youthful offender. The aim typically is not just to dump the offender into juvenile detention, but work with him and the parents to resolve the issues that landed him in trouble.

A juvenile Probation Officer has much more roles and powers than an adult probation officer. He can become active before charges being brought, to counsel the youth, or take other actions. But, if a criminal violation petition is brought and sustained by the Juvenile Court, the Probation Officer plays a more traditional role.

When a juvenile lands in trouble, but his involvement is not very grave, his parents appear able and competent, and the cops do not consider that a full petition for wardship is necessary, they can produce the juvenile before a Juvenile Probation Officer for initial intake and counseling. The Officer can just talk to him with the parents present, or assist them in retaining better control over their child. This is not really being on probation, but it is helpful and sufficient in many cases and prevents bringing the juvenile into the legal process.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Athens Georgia Juvenile parole procedure criminal law firm

Juvenile probation rules in Madison County GA

When a juvenile is found by the court to be guilty of the charged criminal crime, the court gets jurisdiction over the juveniles life, in very extensive ways. Juvenile Probation will have many terms similar to adult probation, like requirements that the offender obey all laws, work to pay restitution to the victim, report to the officer, get the Officers consent for any change of address or job, and attend counseling or remedial classes for anger management, alcohol abuse, or drug abuse. But, the Juvenile Probation Officers powers is much broader than that. He may direct the juvenile to attend a special school for problem youths so he or she gets special attention. The juvenile may be released to his parents with strict controls decided by the Probation Officer and not the parents. The controls may include a maintaining a job, reaching certain academic goals, and almost any other rules and limits that good parenting might impose. In a real sense, a juvenile becomes a ward of the court, and virtually gets a new parent.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Madison County Georgia Juvenile arrest criminal lawyer

Juvenile legal procedure in Athens GA

If the minor or the parents request an attorney, one will be appointed if they cannot afford their own lawyer specializing in juvenile law, and the attorneys initial duty will be to try and put together a convincing case to the Court as to why the juvenile must be released while the case is sorted out. During all stages in Juvenile Court, the minor retains the right to have both his attorney and his guardians present. Meanwhile unlike general court, no other defendants and no other lawyers may be present in court when the minors case is called and adjudicated. Although, in several regards, the juvenile has fewer rights than an adult criminal defendant. It is a very controversial system. Many decry the ultra leniency of the juvenile legal system, while others decry the lack of procedural protections given to the minor. From the minors standpoint, the Court has his best interests at heart when he is ordered held in custody, without bail, without a preliminary hearing, without an officer even having seen the alleged misdemeanor committed, and without the promise of a jury trial.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Oconee County GA Juvenile legal procedure criminal law lawyer

Juvenile criminal procedure in Athens GA

?A law enforcement officer may detain a juvenile for either a felony or misdemeanor violation. However unlike the case with adults, the law enforcement officer do not have to personally witness a misdemeanor to take the juvenile into custody. He needs only probable cause to believe it was committed. He may even arrest upon reasonable cause to believe the minor a truant. After arresting a minor, the officer then has numerous options. He may release him with a simple warning or release him and direct him to appear before a community agency for counseling. He can release him and issue a citation to appear before a Probation Officer for further action, or he may directly have him detained in custody by Juvenile Detention Authorities. The minor should not be put in with adult offenders.

The Officer is required to immediately inform the minors parent or guardian of the arrest. The minor is permitted two completed phone calls, to a parent and also to a lawyer. If the officer decides on detention, he must present the minor before a Probation Officer within 24 hours of his arrest. The Probation Officer has the power to release the minor, order informal counseling, informal probation, or order a petition filed against him, upon release or while kept in custody.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney

Madison County Georgia criminal lawyer

Types of crimes in Athens GA

Typically, there are three types of offenses: felonies, misdemeanors and infractions, however the terms for these three kinds might change from state to state. A felony is a crime that could result in an adult being sentenced to state prison, usually a sentence of over a year. Felonies include burglary, robbery, weapons assaults, violent sex crimes, murder, grand theft, and sale of any illegal drugs, to provide a few examples.

Misdemeanors are less serious offenses, but will still result in a term of up to a year in the County Jail, if committed by an adult. Petty theft, possession of small amounts of marijuana, disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, less grave assaults, and drunk driving are generally misdemeanor offenses.

The jail sentences for these crimes do not typically apply to a minor, as he or she cannot be found guilty of a crime. However, a juvenile appearing in the Juvenile justice system will be presented with charges of violating those criminal laws, as grounds for invoking the Juvenile Courts authority over the minor.

Infractions are even less grave crimes than misdemeanors, and include any violation that cannot result in any prison time, but only a fine or administrative consequence. For example speeding, parking violations, or failing to comply with administrative regulations concerning to your home, car or business.

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Athens GA DUI Lawyer – Athens Georgia Criminal Defense Attorney