Lisa Pelosi: Meth is still on the scene. There are no good drugs and the level of people becoming addicted to these drugs is very high. The prosecutors are on top of things. People are very surprised as to how harsh the sentencing, is in these drugs cases, but the DA’s office’s is taking these cases very seriously and while we have more leverage to help people who are kind of victims of these drugs meaning the addicts. The courts are not as lenient with people who are involved in getting these drugs into our society.
Professionals like Doctors or School Teachers Can be Charged with Drug Offenses
Interviewer: Have you ever dealt with someone or people that maybe considered to a professional, or a teacher or someone in the health care field. Have you ever dealt with a case that involved them and drug usage as well?
Lisa Pelosi: Yes I have. The term addict just runs through every level of society. I’ve dealt with doctors, I’ve dealt with nurses, I’ve dealt with many professionals on Wall Street type clients. The term addict does not equal, someone living on the street. We also have an unfortunately many young kids who are involved with what these pills and heroin now and other drugs and pills. Young suburban kids are addicts. It doesn’t matter how much money you make, or what color your skin is, who you are, or what schools you’ve gone to.
Drug Addiction Encompasses All Levels and Strata of Society in New York State
The addiction is there, and the prosecutor’s office just wants to help people who are addicts, and they are willing to help them and help their families. That’s something as a defense attorney, I like to be aware of what programs would be available to people, who are using drugs so that they don’t get a criminal record. If they can help themselves, they can go on with a productive life.
Common Client Mistakes Detrimental to a Favorable Outcome in a Drug Case
Interviewer: What are some things that people do to hurt their case unintentionally when it comes to drug cases?
Lisa Pelosi: Sometimes it’s hard to believe, but one of the worst things they could do is get arrested while their case is going on. That really hurts their case tremendously, because while you’re trying to make arguments to the prosecutor as to why the prosecutor should help your client rather to send them to jail. If they’re arrested again, that will have a terrible effect on the case and definitely have a terrible effect, especially if they’re caught selling, with trying to get them help.
