Cocaine Possession

Drug Arrests Down While Property Crime Rises

Under California’s new Proposition 47 law, offenses that once were major felonies have been downgraded to misdemeanors. Offenders who once would have gone to jail for drug possession and theft, are now facing mere warnings and possible fines.

Proposition 47

Proposition 47 was signed into law on November 5, 2014. It has resulted in major changes to the California criminal justice system, some of which have been quite unexpected. The original concept behind the law was to reduce the amount of time nonviolent offenders spent behind bars, and steer penalties for minor offenses towards rehabilitation rather than punishment.

This would also, it was thought, ease the overcrowded conditions in jails. In this, it has succeeded. Inmates suffering county sentences are now serving full sentences since overcrowding has subsided. This means fewer convicts are getting early release.

Fewer Arrests

What has also resulted, however, are fewer arrests for small crimes. Police are viewing arrests for misdemeanors as wasted time, and drug crime lawyers are seeing clients get off with no punishment when they are arrested.

This has had the effect of reducing drug arrests by nearly a third in the city of Los Angeles, and almost 50% in LA County. Those drug offenders that are arrested face warnings and slap-on-the-wrist sentences with no jail time, leaving them free to escalate criminal activity.

Unused Alternatives

While the law provides for the savings gained from reduced incarceration to be put towards drug treatment, mental health and truancy programs, few are taking advantage of these solutions. The increased funding will not go into effect until next year, and many of the convicted simply head back onto the streets.

Project 180, located in downtown L.A., has seen only 27 slots of 62 filled in its court-ordered drug treatment program. Felony prosecutions have slowed, resulting in far fewer referrals.

Property Crime

According to the Los Angeles Times, as narcotics arrests have decreased, property crime has been on the rise, up 7% in Los Angeles and 10% across the county. Motor vehicle thefts saw a 20% increase, vehicle break-ins were up 12%, and retail thefts have increased by the same amount.

Still, despite initial skepticism, criminal justice experts and crime law attorneys remind people that correlation does not equate to causation. It is, they say, too early to draw any conclusions based on the new laws and there could be other factors in play. Time will tell if this new approach works.

If you have been arrested for a drug-related crime, remember that you have the right to an attorney. Be sure that attorney is Lawrence Wolf. For a free consultation, fill out our contact form or call us at [number type=”1″].

California Officials Hope New App Helps Decrease DUI

Drunk driving lawyers in Los Angeles are rallying behind the 2014 announcement of a new app that is designed to decrease DUIs. In December 2014, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson unveiled that a new app will hopefully help to reduce the number of DUI incidents in California. The free app is designed to help prevent DUI-related crashes, deaths, and injuries.

Following the December announcement, Senator Jackson spoke with California Highway Patrol officers in Ventura. She said that, “we need to be attentive, we need to be sober, we need to make sure we have a designated driver who is going to take responsibility.”

At its core, the app allows people to request a ride home from various transportation companies including Uber, Curb, and Lyft. This app is being supported by DUI lawyers in Los Angeles, because it will help to keep the cities safer, while also encouraging citizens to refrain from drinking and driving.
Free App Features Local Designated Driving Programs

The free app is also designed to show nearby restaurants that offer free designated drivers or discounted nonalcoholic beverages to its patrons. To date more than a dozen restaurants and bars in the Ventura County area have joined forces with the apps. California state officials are hoping that many more will soon follow suit.

When asked about the accuracy of the app, CHP Coastal Division Chief Reggie Chappelle said when he downloaded the app, he discovered that several establishments near his home offered incentives to designated drivers. He went on to say, “we hope that this results in fewer people drinking and driving.”

In support of Chappelle’s comments, Senator Jackson went on to further support the new app. She said that “the message is to buckle up … don’t drink and drive and then always designate a sober driver.” DUI lawyers are also supporting this innovative app. Los Angeles DUI attorneys are discussing the numerous benefits of the app with their past, current, and potential clients. As more people support the app, California officials hope that the number of DUIs will be greatly reduced.

Time will tell if the free app will continue to gain support amongst DUI Los Angeles lawyers, as well as the general population of California. The developers hope that the app will make a true impact on the number of DUI incidents in 2015 and the years to come. To learn more about this app and how it might affect DUI laws in California, visit www.youareinnocent.com to receive a complementary consultation, or call [number type=”1″].

Overview: The Transnational Drug Trafficking Act

Let’s explore the Transnational Drug Trafficking Act (S. 706), which was passed by the Senate on Dec. 15, 2014, but has yet to be approved by Congress. Its goal is to reduce the supply of drugs coming across U.S. borders from foreign countries.

Co-authored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the act aims to curb and to reduce the supply of drugs in the U.S. The two senators are co-chairs on the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control.

Specifically, the law will allow the Department of Justice authority for prosecuting foreign drug traffickers.

That means penalties can be applied to foreign chemical producers who illegally and knowingly ship precursor drugs into the country. They know these drugs will be used in the creation of illegal drugs. Precursors can be cold medicine, which is used in the creation of the highly addictive drug methamphetamine.

It also will aid the Justice Department in forming extradition cases. They are targeting Andean-area drug kingpins, which includes Peru and Columbia. Drug trafficking groups from Mexico are utilized by these kingpins to help funnel illegal narcotics into the U.S.

The law is meant to address an issue that is constantly in flux, since drug cartels evolve as the situation changes. The act wants to close a loophole that allows drug traffickers to use intermediaries to get their product into the country.

The bill underscores and supports president Obama’s “Strategy to Combat Transnational organized Crime.”

Critics of the bill say the problem is already too large, and that this new act is too little too late when it comes to the manufacturing and transportation of drugs.

The bill comes in the wake of many states attempting to find ways to decriminalize marijuana. According to a 2014 pew Research Center poll, most U.S. citizens want to steer away from mandatory minimums for drug offenses, while 54 percent of Americans say marijuana should be legalized.

Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Lawrence Wolf has been defending and prosecuting drug crime cases for 40 years. If you need legal advice, please call the You Are Innocent offices at [number type=”1″].

City Attorney Announces Crackdown on Skid Row Drug Trade

City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has announced a new crackdown on the Skid Row drug trade, identifying 80 suspected dealers whom he hopes to exile from the poverty-stricken, Los Angeles neighborhood. The City Attorney’s office filed an injunction naming 80 individuals, all with drug-related convictions, who law enforcement officials believe are involved with selling drugs — mostly crack cocaine, but also marijuana, heroin and meth. Many of those named are also believed to be gang members, according to an LA Timesreport.

The proposed injunction has been met with protests from homeless advocates and civil rights activists who argue that this latest law enforcement measure will result in the targeting of homeless individuals, and will be an obstacle for those seeking drug rehabilitation and other services in the area.

Skid Row has been a hotspot for the crack cocaine trade for many years. The drug has typically been sold here by men and women from outside the area, and often on behalf of various gangs. There has been a concentrated police presence in the Skid Row area in recent years. However, this is law enforcement’s most extreme and far-reaching measure to date aimed at curtailing the crack cocaine trade in the Skid Row district.

Street dealers of crack cocaine are typically punished far more severely than the powder cocaine dealers who sell them the raw materials to make crack. While this may seem confusing, or unfair, it is a fact created by federal drug laws. If you have been charged with or are being investigated for a Los Angeles cocaine possession, it is extremely important to retain an attorney who is experienced in defending clients against all state and federal charges relating to possessing, distributing, or manufacturing crack cocaine.

The skilled and experienced drug defense lawyers in LA at the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf have been successfully representing clients accused of drug trafficking, drug possession, drug manufacturing and other drug charges for over 40 years. We defend all crimes, both felony and misdemeanor, and we are prepared to aggressively represent your drug case. If you have been arrested for or charged with a drug crime in California, including crack cocaine possession or trafficking, contact the Law Offices of Lawrence Wolf at [number type=”1″] for an immediate free consultation.