Substance Abuse Expert : Home

Substance Abuse Experts can help with DUI / DWI cases, drug cases, domestic violence cases and other criminal cases in California.

The consequences of a California drug possession, sales, manufacturing or trafficking conviction are extremely harsh - the offender faces substantial jail time or even a prison sentence. However, incarceration isn't inevitable in a California controlled substance case. sentencing alternatives such as residential treatment may be available that can help the drug offender avoid time behind bars. The skilled criminal defense lawyers at the Kavinoky Law Firm can determine whether residential drug treatment may be an option in each individual case.

Jail time was once a certainty after certain California drug convictions, but the courts have undergone a fundamental shift - they will now consider treatment and rehabilitation instead of jail if there are benefits to both society and the offender.

A reputable Substance Abuse Expert is an integral addition to the criminal defense team in these types of cases. A knowledgeable Substance Abuse Expert may be able to persuade the court to sentence the drug offender to residential treatment or another form of alternative sentencing.

Not everyone arrested on drug charges is dependent on controlled substances, but many are. For those individuals, entering treatment can be a life-altering development. In rehabilitation, the individual will learn about strategies to combat substance abuse through counseling, education, and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. An experienced Substance Abuse Expert will evaluate the accused drug offender to determine whether he or she would benefit from rehab.

California law allows for time spent in residential treatment or another form of alternative sentencing to be credited against jail time on a day-for-day basis. Treatment programs range from 30 days to a year or more. Unfortunately, only residential treatment is typically credited by the court against a jail sentence - outpatient treatment usually doesn't qualify.

Successful completion of a residential treatment program can ultimately result in the dismissal of drug charges through a deferred entry of judgment, Proposition 36, or informal diversion. Once the charges are dismissed, it's as if the arrest and conviction never occurred, and the offender isn't obligated to reveal it anywhere except on applications to law-enforcement agencies.

Access to residential treatment and other types of alternative sentencing can also be obtained through a carefully negotiated plea bargain. By pleading guilty to a lesser charge or by accepting negotiated consequences, accused drug offenders can reduce or even eliminate time in jail.

Ultimately, jail isn't unavoidable in California drug cases - there are many types of alternative sentencing available, including residential treatment programs. An expert defense team that includes an experienced criminal defense lawyer and a knowledgeable Substance Abuse Expert will explore every available option to help an accused drug offender avoid time behind bars and gain access to appropriate treatment.