If you’re facing drug possession charges in Illinois, the prosecution has to prove that you committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. That includes proving that you knew you had the drugs. This knowledge requirement is an important part of the criminal offense.
Breaking down the elements of drug possession
There are specific elements to every criminal offense, and the prosecution must prove each of those elements beyond a reasonable doubt. With drug possession charges in Illinois, the prosecution must prove three elements:
- Substance – the type and quantity of illicit substance
- Possession – that you physically possessed the substance or had control over it
- Knowledge – that you knew you were in possession of the substance
There are many nuances to each of these elements.
The knowledge element: What does the prosecution have to prove?
To prove that you knowingly possessed the illegal drug, the prosecution must prove that:
- You knew what the drug was. What if you bought some pills from a friend that you thought were an over-the-counter medication, but they turned out to be an illegal substance? In that case, you wouldn’t be knowingly possessing illegal drugs because you didn’t know what they were.
- You knew that you were in possession of the drug. What if someone else sneaked an illegal substance into your car or backpack? In that case, you wouldn’t knowingly be in possession of them.
Of course, most drug possession cases aren’t that straightforward. There may be many angles for challenging the prosecution’s contention that you knowingly possessed illegal substances. A skilled lawyer can identify the strongest grounds for an effective defense.