The Criminal Defense Law Center of
West Michigan

Heroin Possession

Heroin Possession Defense Attorneys
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Michigan laws are tough on drugs; police and other authorities crack down hard on those arrested for Heroin possession. The penalties for this conviction can cause someone to wind up in prison for a long time!

West Michigan is a great place to live! We have friendly people, great land, and beautiful lakes to enjoy.  However, when it comes to heroin, we are no different than a lot of other places across the United States.  West Michigan has seen a huge increase in heroin overdoses that have resulted in death.

The main reason we have witnessed this horrible fact is the price of this drug has gone down.  Heroin is cheaper than other illegal drugs such as cocaine.  Since the price is lower, people are able to buy more heroin doses which leads to a greater increase in addiction and death from overdoses.  Drug dealers in West Michigan are looking at harsh penalties if they are caught selling this drug in any court throughout West Michigan. Even if you are charged with possession, the penalties can be stiff.

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About Heroin

In West Michigan, heroin possession is illegal and many people don’t understand what “possession” actually means in the legal field. You can be found guilty of this offense without having heroin on you. If you have control over the drug, whether it is in your vehicle, your home, or your workplace you can be charged with heroin possession in West Michigan.

Heroin is classified as a Schedule 1 drug; those that fall in this Schedule are known to be the most addictive, dangerous and abused drugs. A conviction for heroin possession will leave you facing harsh penalties. The West Michigan Criminal Defense Law Center has the attorneys you need to help you avoid the harshest penalties. We will protect your rights!

Heroin is a very addictive drug and because of this law enforcement officers crackdown on people suspected of possession. Street names for the drug heroin include Mud, Smack, Big H, Dope and Dragon. Originally promoted as a cough medication, heroin quickly became an addictive drug requiring higher on more frequent doses in order to experience the same level of high.

There are many different methods to ingest heroin such as injecting and snorting. Individuals often heat up the drug so they can sniff the vapors.

Heroin remains in the bloodstream for a significant period of time. This means the drug is easily detected in the blood or urine. When an individual fails a drug test for heroin while on probation the consequences can probation, jail or a prison sentence.

The penalties for heroin possession can cause someone to wind up in prison for a long time!

Heroin Possession in West Michigan- Criminal Penalties

Heroin possession in West Michigan is a drug crime that is classified as a felony. Felony offenses are typically punished more severely than those considered misdemeanors. The punishment you face if convicted for possessing heroin will depend on the amount of the drug involved along with other factors.

  • Less than 50 grams of heroin – Fine of up to $25,000, up to four years in prison, or both.
  • 50 grams to 449 grams of heroin – Fine of up to $250,000, up to 20 years in prison, or both.
  • 450 grams to 999 grams of heroin – Fine of up to $500,000, up to 30 years in prison, or both.
  • 1,000 or more grams of heroin – Fine of up to $1,000,000, potential life in prison, or both.

Other factors that may affect the penalties you face are whether you were in possession of the drug near a church, home, school, park, or business.

If convicted, your driver’s license will be suspended.

Sadly, drug use in America is on the rise. Statistics from from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration prove this.  Starting in 2017, 30.6 million people in the U.S. age 12 and over have used an illegal drugs. Breaking down the statistics  from the above mentioned study even further, they found some seriously disturbing stats about drug use in Michigan.

According to the study, 20.8 % of drug offenses in Michigan are related to heroin. Heroin is an extremely dangerous drug. The most  common drug-related crimes in the United States are from use of methamphetamines. 

Out of all the drug-related charges in Michigan, an the average prison time served is 77 months. 95.3% of people charged with a drug offense will take a plea deal instead of taking their case to trial. 

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