Category: Crime

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… Read More

There is an exciting development in the world of crime scene investigation. A technologically advanced machine allows law enforcement to obtain a complete DNA profile in just two hours’ time. This development is beneficial to any crime law attorney in Los Angeles and an innocent suspect. Current DNA Profiling System is lacking At present, to receive a DNA profile the majority of law enforcement agencies in California has to ship their evidence to the state crime lab. This process can take weeks or even months. During that time, an innocent person may be incarcerated or the suspect may have already… Read More

Last year, Proposition 47 was approved with a margin of 60-40. All throughout California, human rights activists rejoiced. It seemed like a positive step in the right direction. Proposition 47 introduced less severe sentencing for all non-violent crimes, with the exception of offenders who have a prior record of murder, rape, sex offenses or certain gun crimes. Perhaps the biggest change was that many felonies were re-classified as misdemeanors that would carry a significantly decreased fine. Among these former felonies are personal drug use and stealing. The goal of Proposition 47 was to enhance the fairness of the criminal justice… Read More

DNA helps prove guilt or innocence in court, but the collection of DNA raises questions about privacy. Genomics is a growing field that enables scientists to learn more about individuals, from their familial relationships to behavioral tendencies, based on their genome. DNA can also link (or not link) someone to a crime. The applications are continuing to expand with rapid DNA testing becoming more readily available. The constantly evolving usage of DNA has led some states, including California, to challenge the current regulations regarding the collection of DNA. Your California criminal lawyers must be able to inform you about your… Read More

An LA Times article posted on the first of the year reports that, for the second year in a row, overall crime rates in Los Angeles County have been on the decrease. The interesting part of all of this is that nobody–not even police–is quite sure why. Regardless, this decrease in crime is welcome for both police and citizens alike. Specific Statistics Specifically, a thorough analysis of crime reports and police records throughout 2014 found that violent crime was down a total of 4% from the year before, property crime was down 7%, and homicide was down by 11%. It’s… Read More

White collar crime are usually crimes of theft and deception committed by salaried professional people as opposed to other crimes that use force. White collar crimes can be prosecuted at the state level or federal level, or both.

There are many types of sexual assault or sexual abuse. Sexual assault, in most states, includes any type of unwanted physical contact with any sexual organ. Most sexual abuse and/or sexual assault crimes are felonies in California.

Abuse does not need to occur within the “home” to be considered domestic violence. It can occur outside the home, at work, on the telephone, or even on the internet. There does not need to be any physical evidence of abuse in order to be charged with domestic violence in Los Angeles.

Federal sentencing guidelines require that judges must impose pre-determined minimum mandatory sentence and, even though the judges may feel that the sentence is excessive, they have virtually no authority to deviate from those guidelines. See our Federal Crimes legal services here.

If you have been charged in California with an offense under the Controlled Substance Act, do not attempt to face the court system without representation from a Los Angeles drug offense attorney who has experience in successfully defending clients charged with drug crimes.