The skilled defense lawyers at the Kavinoky Law Firm are experienced in negotiating deferred entries of judgment in California drug cases. Their expert defense team includes a knowledgeable Substance Abuse Expert who can thoroughly evaluate each offender to determine whether a deferred entry of judgment or another type of alternative sentencing is appropriate.

A deferred entry of judgment is available to California drug defendants who have no prior criminal record who are facing certain first-time drug offenses. The offender is required to attend a class that meets once each week for four months.

Once the course has been successfully completed and all fees associated with the case have been paid, and 18 months have passed without another arrest or criminal conviction, the offense will be removed from the individual's record as if it never occurred.

There are obvious advantages to obtaining a deferred entry of judgment - a clean criminal record removes obstacles to employment, housing, education, and a host of other opportunities. Obtaining a deferred entry of judgment in a California drug case also allows offenders to close the book on an unfortunate chapter of their lives and make a fresh start.

Although California Penal Code section 1000, which allows for a deferred entry of judgment, only applies to certain first-time controlled substance offenses, there are sentencing alternatives and other options available that can help drug defendants avoid jail.

A plea bargain may help the defendant avoid jail in prosecutions excluded from a deferred entry of judgment by PC 1000. A skilled defense attorney may be able to negotiate a plea bargain that involves reducing a felony to a misdemeanor, pleading guilty to a lesser charge, or admitting responsibility in exchange for negotiated consequences.

Regardless of whether the defendant accepts a plea bargain, there are many alternatives to jail in California drug cases. The offender may be able to avoid a jail sentence through residential treatment, electronic monitoring, Proposition 36, drug court, or informal diversion.

A skilled Substance Abuse Expert is an invaluable addition to the defense team for offenders seeking any type of alternative sentencing. The expert's thorough evaluation will determine whether the offender has a substance-abuse problem that would benefit from treatment or merely experienced bad luck or poor judgment. Either way, it may be possible to persuade the court to consider alternatives to jail.

A California drug charge is no joke, so it's imperative to have a skilled defense attorney fighting for the defendant's rights and freedom. The experienced defense lawyers at the Kavinoky Law Firm will fight to keep the offender out of jail in any California drug case.