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According to a recent Time.com article, police aren’t catching a large percentage of drunk drivers each day. Statistics show that there are 300,000 occurrences of drunk driving on a daily basis; however, a mere 4,000 of these end with rides in a police car. Other notable statistics include the fact that drunk drivers kill 10,000 U.S. citizens annually. That number accounts for a third of all car accident deaths. Some argue — including James Fell who worked at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for three decades, according to Time’s article — that there are proven methods of reducing drunken… Read More

America’s war on drugs, started by President Nixon, has been an abject failure in almost every way. After millions of shattered lives and billions spent on incarcerations, drug use has only increased in the decades that followed. In fact, the sole “success” of the war on drugs is that the United States became the world’s leading incarcerator.To combat the persistent issues caused by the war on drugs, America simply needs to look at its global neighbors and allies for innovative approaches that can solve our drug crisis. Following Portugal’s Lead, America Could Decriminalize Drugs Ask any drug crime lawyer whether drug… Read More

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… Read More

Many tourists visit California each year from other states. Some percentage of these tourists inevitably end up receiving a DUI while visiting California. Many think that because they aren’t residents of California, nothing will happen to them as an out of state driver receiving a California DUI. The procedures surrounding a California DUI are the same for both residents and non-residents of California, except that the California DMV does not have the right to take driver’s licenses issued by another state. Following a DUI arrest, the DMV will hold a hearing, just as it is done for a resident. The… Read More

Comedian and actor Bill Cosby has been facing sexual assault accusations for weeks by more than 20 women. Now one of his accusers is filing criminal charges, according to TMZ and other reports. On Wednesday, Model Chloe Goins filed criminal charges with the Los Angeles Police Department against Cosby. She claims the comedian drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2008 at the Playboy Mansion. Goins says she woke up naked in a bedroom. At the time, she claims Cosby was masturbating and sucking her toes. She claims something was placed in her drink. She was 18 years old at the… Read More

There continues to be national outrage at repeat drunken drivers. According to amercurynews.com story, Sen. Jerry Hill of California will be presenting legislation that will force former DUI motorists in the state of California to put ignition locks in their vehicles. The locks will detect blood-alcohol levels via the driver’s breath. This new law would matter to not only repeat offenders but also first-time offenders. The new law would build off a pilot program in place in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Tulare and Alameda. Beginning in 2010, California’s pilot program demands that the locks be installed for five months for first… Read More

Last September, California signed the “yes means yes” bill — new legislation to help campus officials better assess rape allegations and sexual assault at colleges and universities (who accept state financial aid). The bill changes the meaning of sexual consent. Each party must make “an affirmative, unambiguous and conscious decision” to participate in sexual activity together. Instead of “no means no,” the new bill creates a new, empowered situation for college students. The absence of resistance or silence can no longer be considered consent. In a majority of states, sexual assault is defined by any kind unsolicited physical touching with… Read More

America’s War on Drugs is mired in flawed and incomplete policies as evidenced when looking back on some of the events of 2014. Acclaimed actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s overdose death was a tragic reminder of the 105 people who die every day in the U.S. from overdosing. Over 30,000 die annually from accidental overdose. California was the most recent and largest state to help pass overdose prevention laws. Their new legislation allows citizens better access to opiate overdose reversal medication, which can be obtained via a pharmacist. Many citizens across the country want to legalize marijuana. In 2014, voters in… 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.