Heroin possession and distribution arrests are on the rise as a result of the New Jersey’s ongoing battle against the heroin epidemic. Additionally, the resources poured into this initiative by state and local lawmakers and law enforcement have led to a correlating increase in arrests for heroin-related crimes. Heroin-related crimes are those that are attempted or executed in order to further any heroin-related activity ranging from fostering a large-scale heroin distribution scheme to pursuing one’s own personal habit.
Prescription Crimes
As previously mentioned, heroin addictions often derive from an initial dependence on prescription drugs including:
At some point, the prescription expires, leaving the person suffering from dependence with very few options to keep the habit going. This is the chain of events that has lead to an explosion in prescription-related crimes including:
- Obtaining a Prescription by Fraud or Forgery
- Possession of Prescription Drugs
- Under Unlawful Influence of Prescription Drugs
- Distribution of Prescription Drugs.
Theft Crimes
Theft crimes may not immediately come to mind when discussing heroin and related offenses. These crimes include:
- Theft
- Shoplifting
- Burglary
- Robbery
- Trespass
Theft crimes continue to rise because individuals who have succumbed to heroin addiction will take increasingly drastic measures to support the habit. Oftentimes, the initial theft victims of heroin abusers are family members and friends who notice that jewelry and valuables have turned up missing. Heroin abusers will often then turn to petty theft and burglary and try to sell the stolen goods to pawn shops and scrap metal dealers. For this reason, New Jersey law enforcement has partnered with the NJ Division of Weights and Measures to track cases of theft back to pawn brokers and similar establishments through new automated systems geared toward keeping track of stolen goods statewide. As a result, cooperating pawnshops and metal dealers will be able to provide information from the sellers of stolen goods such as photo ID to police investigating the theft. Increasingly, the proceeds from thefts are used to fuel a heroin habit.
More Heroin Related Crimes
In addition to theft crimes and prescription crimes, there are plenty of other types of criminal charges that accompany heroin possession and/or heroin distribution charges. If you or your significant other or child was engaged in a traffic stop during which heroin was found in the automobile, then a charge of CDS in a Motor Vehicle will likely be filed. Additionally, depending upon the location of a heroin arrest, the arrestee may also face enhanced penalties for Distribution in a School Zone or Distribution within 500 Feet of a Public Park. Whichever heroin-related offense you or your loved one is facing, the Attorneys at the Law Offices of William Proetta are here to help. Please feel free to explore the resources on this site or visit one of our offices statewide. You can always feel free to contact us at 732.494.7900 where an attorney is ready 24/7 to assist you.