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In This Episode:
I pull back the curtain on DRUGS and DRUG LAWS. I’ll explain how the most common street drugs are sold and discuss why the war on drugs is not working. The evil in these laws is not a matter of a misguided effort to be tough on crime, but rather an insidious attack on the basic fairness of the criminal justice system.
TRIAL LAWYER MENTOR Quick Tip:
I offer three quick tips to keep in mind in order to make any argument or presentation more persuasive.
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The most common street drugs are cocaine, in either powder or crystal form, heroin, methamphetamine, prescription drugs and ecstasy. There are a myriad of other drugs out there but these are the ones we see most often in the criminal justice system. (See images below)
According to one study, the war on drugs is costing us about $500 per second. That is not a typo – per second. The way we choose to enforce these laws results in mass incarceration of certain segments of our society and does little to stem the use or sale of illicit drugs. Currently there are 2 million citizens in metal cages in the United States, of those some studies estimate that 25% of them are there for non-violent drug offenses.
THE HOUSE I LIVE IN
A film by Eugene Jarecki explores the failure of the war on drugs and the devastating consequences these laws have had on families and whole segments of society. I highly recommend this film for anyone who wants to truly understand why we have spent billions on this “war” and have nothing to show for it. Below is the trailer for this film: please note some of the images in the trailer are graphic.
PLEASE SEE THE RESOURCE PAGE TO GET YOUR OWN COPY OF THIS FILM
POWDER COCAINE
Derived from the Cocoa leaf, powder cocaine sells for about $100 per gram. Its high lasts approximately 1 hour per hit and it became popular in the 1970’s era of dance clubs and high society parties.
CRACK
Crack is derived from powder cocaine. It sells for about $2 to $10 per rock. The high is much more intense than powder cocaine, but the effects last around 30 minutes.
METHAMPHETAMINE
Meth is a purely synthetic drug, not derived from any natural or plant based substance, it is purely chemical. It sells for approximately $25 for a 1/4 gram. (these are rough estimates as prices and quality vary throughout the country).
HEROIN
Heroin is derived from the poppy plant. A hit can cost anywhere from $10-$20. I have had clients tell me that as a daily user their habit costs them between $150-$200 per day.
These statistics and images are offered to help explain what drugs we are talking about when we speak of the war on drugs and the estimates of cost are based on interviews with clients, other attorney and reference materials.
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In This Episode:
I reveal what happens to a person from the day they are arrested for a crime to the day their actual jury trial starts. If you cannot afford to post bail, you may spend up to 3 months in jail waiting for your trial to begin. Some trials take years to prepare. You will also learn about plea bargains and why they are necessary but are also how they are used to deny defendants their right to trial.
Do you ever wonder why you are sometimes called for jury duty only to spend a whole day in the waiting room and never get called into a courtroom? I’ll explain what may be the cause of that frustrating day.
TRIAL LAWYER MENTOR Quick Tip:
I offer some advice on tag lines and stories. Whether you are trying to persuade a jury to acquit or your boss to give you a raise or your prospective client to hire you, it all comes down to the story you tell. The best way to structure your story is to boil it down to the TV GUIDE taglines of old.
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Click hereto sign up for our free newsletter offering in depth tips and strategies for mastering the Art of the Jury Trial.
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In This Episode:
I expose Bad Laws: Laws that were passed to placate us and make us believe we are “tough on crime”, but in reality do more harm than good and often are not worth the money it costs to enforce them. Specifically addressed are the “THREE STRIKES” law and laws requiring lifetime registration for all sex offenders.
TRIAL LAWYER MENTOR Quick Tip:
I offer some advice on how to start your jury selection when your client is accused of a crime that carries a horrific social stigma.
LAWYERS and LAW STUDENTS
Clickhere to sign up for our free newsletter offering in depth tips and strategies for mastering the Art of the Jury Trial.
In This Episode:
