Along with these general charges, the DC Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines then determine how a specific incident will be charged. For example, an individual may receive up to 180 days in jail, as well as a $1,000 fine for a repeat offense, while a first-time offender for misdemeanor possession would not usually receive jail time unless violence or a weapon was involved. Therefore, they may even have an opportunity to have their conviction erased from their record.
Essentially, the severity of potential penalties between a first-time offense and repeat offenses becomes more serious, as laid out in the sentencing guidelines. Because of these nuances, it is important for a defendant to understand the specific charges they face and how those charges are considered in both DC law, as well as the Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines.