Can I Get Fired for a Drug Arrest?

Individuals in Wisconsin can be arrested for various drug-related criminal charges. For example, a person can be arrested for possessing a certain quantity of an illegal drug or engaging in a drug sale or illegal drug trafficking transaction. In fact, you can even get arrested if you have illegal drugs within your reach as an occupant of a vehicle. If you have recently been accused of a drug crime, you may be wondering whether your employer can fire you. The answer, as is often the case with legal questions, is that it depends.

While Wisconsin has laws that protect employees from termination or denial of employment because of an arrest, the reality is that exceptions to the law often apply, and a drug arrest could easily result in significant collateral consequences, including getting fired. Fortunately, in many cases, an attorney can help.

How Can a Lawyer Help?

Arrests can often lead to collateral consequences, including problems at work. Often, a lawyer can help mitigate these consequences and may even be able to prevent an arrest resulting in criminal charges.

In many instances, an arrest related to drugs in the result of a police search of a person’s vehicle, home, or person. These searches are subject to the limitations of the 4^th Amendment, and if the police violate your rights, any evidence that they obtain may potentially be thrown out. A skilled criminal defense lawyer at Cohen Law Group can evaluate your case and determine whether the police violated your rights. If they did, it may be possible to have any pending criminal charges dropped, protecting your rights and your job.

Collateral Consequences Are Not Limited to the Workplace

If you have been arrested for a drug-related offense, you should know that the problems a drug crime can create can extend far beyond the workplace. Some of the other collateral consequences you may be facing as a result of a drug arrest include:

·        Problems renting an apartment

·        Sanctions imposed by your school

·        Issues with professional licensure

By retaining an attorney as soon as you can after an arrest, you can limit the fallout you will face as a result of your arrest. In many cases, an attorney can take steps that can prevent your arrest from turning into a conviction, such as working to obtain a favorable plea deal or getting you into a diversion program such as drug court.

Call a Skilled Criminal Defense Attorney About Your Legal Matter Today

Being charged with a drug offense can lead to serious consequences. If you ultimately sustain a conviction, you can be looking at jail time, high monetary fines, and probation. However, if you believe that you were the victim of wrongful termination, you may take action against your employer.

Generally speaking, in any criminal case, the sooner you involve a criminal defense lawyer, the better the result you will obtain. To schedule a free case evaluation and legal consultation with a knowledgeable criminal defense attorney, please call Cohen Law Offices today at (715) 514-5051 or contact us online.