Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

If a male is arrested for possession of heroin and a syringe is found during a search, what additional charge can be applied?

1. Possession of controlled paraphernalia

2. Possession of illegal substances

3. Resisting arrest

4. Manufacturing drugs

The correct answer is: Possession of controlled paraphernalia

When a male is arrested for possession of heroin and a syringe is discovered during a search, the additional charge that can be applied is possession of controlled paraphernalia. This is because a syringe is considered an item associated with the use and administration of controlled substances. Under many legal frameworks, including those pertaining to drug offenses, possessing tools or devices intended for the administration of illegal drugs can lead to separate charges, as they are viewed as facilitating the drug use. On the other hand, while possession of illegal substances is certainly applicable to the original charge of heroin possession, this option does not specifically address the circumstances surrounding the syringe. Resisting arrest pertains to actions taken to avoid apprehension and is unrelated to the possessions found during a search. Manufacturing drugs implies the creation or production of drugs, which does not apply to the situation of mere possession along with a syringe.