Drug offense convictions can haunt you for the rest of your life. In California, convictions are public documents which can be seen by employers, landlords, banks, and others. Convictions can interfere with your employment, apartment rental, obtaining credit to buy a home or car, and can lead to deportation. Convictions can even affect your social life or marriage, as Internet background checks become more and more common. It is important to do everything possible to prevent a drug offense conviction or to reduce the charge to minimize its impact. The skilled criminal defense attorneys at Rodriguez, Lewis & Kahn are experienced in negotiating alternative sentences and getting charges dismissed for drug offenses, such as by Deferred Entry of Judgment (“DEJ”).

DEJ – DEFERRED ENTRY OF JUDGMENT (P.C. 1000)

DEJ is a drug treatment program (drug diversion) that is available to eligible defendants charged with certain drug possession crimes in California. The DEJ program is an alternative to jail or prison. DEJ can suspend criminal proceedings for a set amount of time with certain conditions after a defendant enters a “guilty” plea to the drug charges. If the defendant fails to complete the drug program, the criminal proceedings resume and the defendant is sentenced. If, on the other hand, the defendant successfully completes the DEJ drug program, the charges are dismissed and the defendant can, with certain exceptions, legally respond that he or she has never been arrested or charged with the drug offense.

DEJ ELIGIBILITY

Whether Deferred Entry of Judgment is a possible sentence alternative depends on the drug offense charged, the circumstances of the offense, the defendant’s criminal history and whether the defendant fulfills the requirements of the DEJ program. DEJ only applies to certain drug offenses which include:

• Possession of a controlled substance for personal use;
• Possession of marijuana for personal use;
• Possession of drug paraphernalia;
• Possession of prescription medication without a prescription;
• Cultivation of marijuana for personal use; and
• Creating or using a forged narcotic medication prescription for personal use.

Even if the DEJ program is not available to a particular defendant, Proposition 36 alternative sentencing may also be available. Click here for Prop 36 information .

LOS ANGELES DEJ ATTORNEYS

If you or someone you know is charged with a drug offense, call us for a no-charge consultation and see if you qualify for DEJ - Deferred Entry of Judgment. DEJ is an excellent alternative to jail, prison, or a conviction. We are experienced drug defense attorneys who can guide you through your options and assist you in understanding the benefits of DEJ and how it works. Call us to confidentially discuss the facts of your case and answer all your questions regarding your drug charges.