Caught with hash

LegacyUser

I got caught with a small bit of hash last year and up in court in march. I dont really smoke, it was a drunken mistake! But I want to get the probation act therefore not having a criminal record due to where I work! Is there anything I could do to help the situation. Do i make a donation to a charity? what about going to a drug aware meeting etc. Some help would be grealt appericated

Blub2k4

If it was really only a small bit then I'd suggest that all you will get is the oppurtunity to provide a urine sample at a given interval, probably once a week at a local medical centre, and after a year of it you'll be cleared with no record.
That's what has happened to a few people I know, it seems to be the way they deal with small amounts these days.

Kazooie

Jesus even that sounds strict for a bit of hash. Seems like such a waste of resources on such a petty crime. I thought you'd just get a warnin off the five o, and they'd let ya off. At worst in Galway you'd get a fine.

LegacyUser

'Why don't U just stop worrying and tell them the truth :
That U had a bit much to drink on the night - but were not
causing a problem to yourself or anyone else. Then someone
gave U a little bit of hash.

BUT - it was your first time and your last time.
U never, ever before did anything like that and
U are deeply ashamed of yourself and U will
never do anything like that again. U come from a
respectable family. Lesson learned.

It might stretch it a bit far thought if U told them that
U had just discovered Jesus and was off to join the
Legion of Mary - before signin up for phriests !!!
(That last bit could be a bad idea these days).'

Blub2k4

Strangely enouhgh the case that I'm most familiar with was a guy in Galway having to check in all the time, he was caught on the way to a rave a few years back in Athlone.

Stargal

Going to a drug awareness meeting could be a good start - basically it'll depend on the judge, but if you turn up in a suit, tell them how sorry you are and how you regret everything, mention you've gone to an awareness meeting and are willing to make a donation to a charity then they'll more than likely be lenient with you.

By the way, where abouts in the country are you? A lot of the regional papers have a Courts section, which might be worth a read - you can find out what kind of sentences are usually handed down for your kind of offence, which might help put your mind at ease.

LegacyUser

'I went through exactly this just before Christmas. Was at a music festival, a little drunk and there was a joint being passed around so I took it and of course an undercover just walked up after I did. I handed it over with no resistance and my friend who owned the weed handed his once he started asking questions. He took our names and said nothing would come of it and off he went. Received summons two months later ¬_¬

I turned up to court with my parents and a solicitor and all that happened was the guard went up, read out a statement about what happened and the judge just said under the probation act donate €150 to the court and it will be directed to a local charity.

First thing I'd advise you to do is to get a solicitor with any hope you shouldn't need him but if anything goes pear shaped you will be glad to have him. Try get a local one that would be familiar with the judges.

The judge didn't seem really interested in getting a urine sample or anything about me. The only thing he asked was if this was my first offence.'

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

Stargal

It could be worth your while going to your doctor and getting a urine sample done now that shows that you're clean (provided, of course, that you actually are!) While it's not totally necessary, it could just be something else to use to persuade the judge that you're a solid young man who made a mistake...

Also if you haven't got the money for a solicitor I'm pretty sure you can just avail of free legal aid on the day that you're in court - basically the court-appointed solicitor represents you. Give your district court a ring and check it out.

The Scientist wrote:

if anything you'll have a laugh at some of the 'clientel' that show up in their celtic jerseys and sovereigns.

Cop on and don't be so horribly snobby.

Rb

If it was only a small bit, I really, really wouldn't worry about it. They'll probably just give you a slap on the wrists and tell you to give some money to charity. I'm surprised they actually bothered processing the crime if it were such a small amount tbh.

Either way, tell the judge the truth, tell him you haven't smoked since and don't intend to again and if they require it you can provide a urine sample.

stargal wrote:

op on and don't be so horribly snobby.

There is quite an element of truth to it. No need for a debate about it in this thread though.

Victor

First, get a solicitor.

Second, do you get that drunk often?

Red Alert

don't take the joint next time either!

good luck with your case - it may also be worth your while going down to the public gallery in the courtroom to see a similar case, with possibly the same judge. you'll have to find out when the court sits and who the judge is.

DAVE_K

i got caught with 1.5 grams years back. Got solicitor - he stood up and said I was an upstanding citizen, had made a mistake and had learned my lesson.....and that I wanted to make a donation to the court poor box - it was in the day before the euro came in - 250 punt and that was it, no probation, no criminal record, nought.

LegacyUser

Cheers for all this advices folks! I've seen that in some cases that the probation act been applied so hopefully it will be okay. Getting a urine test done probably wont be a bad idea. Got a lawyer but still have to meet up with him, any idea's how much that will cost? It was a bloody bob dylan gig too and loads apparently got caught

Red Alert

by any chance might this have been at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny?

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

case_sensitive

Hi,

I'm in a similar situation, got caught with a little bit of grass at Garden Party (if they arrested everyone on drugs at these things..), and my hearing is friday.
On to a local solicitor and he is not hopeful, probation act will be very difficult to attain according to him... I'm bricking it too because I work in IT, and not only do virtually all american companies do background checks, but our CLIENTS insist on all trainers and sales staff CVs and legal records be screened. And guess who one of our biggest projects is?
Pulse.
Yeah, the garda IT system.

It was €20 of grass and I could lose my job and travel priviledges over it, really, is there anyone in the world that considers that a just application of the law? Who benefits from my career being ****ed up?

CiaranC

Ive never heard of anyone with no previous being convicted for possession of cannabis. Get a new solicitor.

Attend court, wear a suit. You'll get the probation act.

ChRoMe

CiaranC wrote:

Ive never heard of anyone with no previous being convicted for possession of cannabis. Get a new solicitor.

Attend court, wear a suit. You'll get the probation act.

++ what Ciaran said

If your solictor isint positive about getting you the probation act over a score of a weed he's not worth a thing.

Please dont worry you'll be asked to throw a few quid in the poor box and that will be it.

Its nothing.

case_sensitive

I really hope you're all right, and I wish the OP the best of luck, I'll post back here after Friday with the 'verdict'. With any luck the solicitor is wrong, and the Judge isn't as draconian as he thinks. I have visions of a justice that makes Judge Mary Martin (of Electric Picnic fame) look like Mary Poppins.
A friend of mine got a crazy lecture from her about how he'd be so stoned he'd be incapable of working 25 *days* after smoking a joint. Where the fook do they grow these cabbages?