When friends or family get arrested, we want to help them. They may ask for a favor, or we may want to make the experience easier for them to handle. Either way, you want to be careful about how you help a loved one in jail. However, carrying drugs or alcohol into jail in Oklahoma can get you into serious trouble.
What Constitutes Carrying Drugs Or Alcohol Into Jail In Oklahoma?
Oklahoma law forbids bringing any of the following items into a jail or other area in which prisoners are kept:
- gun;
- knife;
- bomb;
- dangerous instrument;
- controlled dangerous substance (drugs);
- intoxicating beverage;
- money; or
- financial document for anyone other than the inmate or the inmate’s spouse.
Okla. Stat. tit. 57 § 21
These items are considered contraband and will be seized as soon as they are found.
Penalties For Carrying Drugs Or Alcohol Into Jail In Oklahoma
This crime is a felony in Tahlequah.
If convicted, you could serve one to five years in prison, pay a fine between $100 and $1,000, or both.
What Happens When An Inmate Is Caught?
Not only do you place yourself in danger by carrying drugs or alcohol into a jail, you also risk your loved one’s freedom.
If an inmate is found in possession of any item of prohibited contraband, that inmate will also be guilty of a felony. They could spend 5 to 20 years behind bars. Multiple violations could mean a prison term of 20 years or longer.
Other Types Of Prohibited Contraband
There are other types of prohibited contraband, but the consequences for those types is less severe if you are caught carrying them into a jail. Some of these could lead to a misdemeanor conviction, while others could lead to a felony conviction.
Other prohibited contraband includes:
- cigarettes (misdemeanor);
- tobacco (misdemeanor);
- snuff (misdemeanor);
- cigars (misdemeanor);
- cell phone (felony); or
- any other electronic device (felony).
Misdemeanor charges for contraband can result in up to a year in the county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
However, bringing in an electronic device such as a cell phone could lead to up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.
Know The Rules Before You Go
When you visit friends and loved ones in jail, it is important to know the rules about contraband and what you may or not bring to them when you visit.
So, please think twice when a friend in jail asks you for a favor. However, if you or a loved one are already facing charges for bringing in contraband, contact an experienced Tahlequah attorney as soon as possible.
Low-cost Initial Consultation: Tahlequah Criminal Defense Lawyer
Please contact a Tahlequah criminal defense lawyer to discuss your available legal options if you are facing charges for carrying drugs or alcohol into a jail in Oklahoma.
For a low-cost consultation, call Wirth Law Office – Tahlequah at 918-458-2677 or toll-free at 1-888-447-7262.
Or, if you prefer e-mail, you may enter a legal question in the form at the top right of this page and we’ll contact you by e-mail as soon as possible.
