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Question: Will a judge consider my prior record before sentencing me on a second offense (misdemeanor Marijuana possession)? If so, is the punishment usually more severe?

Answer: The court system sometimes resembles the same way a typical household is run, with the judge reacting the same way as a parent.

For example, a parent might ground their son or daughter for staying out past curfew. Then, if the child stays out too late again, the parent thinks that they didn't learn their lesson the first time and might punish them more for the second time.

In general, it works the same way with the judge. A judge will look at prior offenses when they decide the second sentence. It usually is more severe.

Read more about what the law says about possession of Marijuana on LawForKids.org:

DRUGS & ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES #2

DRUGS & ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES #4

DRUGS & ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES #22

DRUGS & ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES #25

Or look at the LawForKids.org Youth Laws section on Drugs.
Comments
1 thru 4 of 4 comments
On 06/18/04
lisa from FL said:
I think it all depends on if the judge is having a good or bad day.
On 08/21/03
Amy from AZ said:
I think that the judge should cosider your past to see if you are getting ikt through your head. If your past history is good then you probably won't get that bad of a sentence.
On 10/07/02
dale from AZ said:
Why Is it a fine and not a law if you get caut smoking weed in C.A
On 02/21/02
Grace from Othe said:
Why is Arizona so strict?
1 thru 4 of 4 comments


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