Drug arrest procedures in Chattanooga depend on the seriousness of the drug charges someone faces. In many cases involving misdemeanor quantities of narcotics, officers issue a citation in Chattanooga, and the person later appears for an arrest. In some municipalities, the individual may be able to avoid an arrest if this is their first crime and they secure the assistance of an experienced drug lawyer at an early point following the issuance of a citation.
Some jurisdictions within Hamilton County mean unavoidable experience with the Hamilton County Jail for someone to turn themselves during the following weeks or months after the issuance of the citation.
In more complex cases or cases involving multiple crimes the person is likely arrested by the police officer at the scene. The officer takes the individual into custody at a jail in the Chattanooga area. Within 24 hours, they appear in front of a judge who may or may not set a bond depending on the severity of their charges. During this time, the individual should have the ability to make a phone call to a friend, a loved one, or a lawyer to assist with the procedural steps to secure their release in the early hours after being charged with a drug crime in Chattanooga.