Drug Crime Penalties in Alabama

With the exception of a simple marijuana possession, all drug crimes carry heavy penalties in the state of Alabama.  While certain crimes are prosecuted more aggressively than others, the penalties for a drug crime will differ depending on certain factors, such as:

• The actual crime itself
• The amount of drugs involved
• The type of drugs involved
• If the defendant has a drug history or prior convictions on his or her record
• If minors were involved in the crime
• If a weapon or firearm was used or attempted to be used during the commission of the crime

Drug Crime Classifications in Alabama

If you have been arrested on drug charges in Alabama, it is important to find an experienced attorney you can trust to put up the aggressive defense you need to increase your chances of avoiding numerous penalties.  Drug crimes, like all other crimes, are classified as either a felony or a misdemeanor, with felonies referring to more serious crimes.  Once a crime has been classified as a felony or a misdemeanor, it will then be broken down into Class A, B, or C, with Class A offenses being the most serious and Class C offenses being the least serious.  According to this system, the penalties for a drug crime are as follows:

• Class A Felony Drug Crimes:  10 years to life in prison and up to $60,000 in fines
• Class A Felony in which a firearm or deadly weapon was used: no less than 20 years in prison
• Class B Felony: 2 years to 20 years in prison and up to $30,000 in fines
• Class C Felony: 1 year to 10 years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines
• Class B or C Felony in which a firearm or deadly weapon was used: no less than 10 years in prison
• Class A Misdemeanor: No more than 1 year in county jail and up to $6,000 in fines
• Class B Misdemeanor: No more than 6 months in county jail up to $3,000 in fines
• Class C Misdemeanor: No more than 3 months in county jail and up to $500 in fines

To learn more about the drug crime penalties in Alabama, please don't hesitate to contact Alabama drug crime attorney Steven Eversole today at (205) 727-9023.