The federal government classifies drugs into “schedules” based on their perceived level of dangerousness. Schedule I – the most strictly regulated and harshly punished category – is reserved for drugs that have a significant risk of abuse, no currently accepted medical use and are considered unsafe to use, even under medical supervision. Heroin, MDMA/ecstasy, PCP,
After nearly two decades with some of the nation’s toughest criminal sentencing laws, California residents voted in the fall of 2012 to ease the impact of California’s Three Strikes Law by passing Proposition 36. The change commits people convicted of a third felony to life imprisonment in more limited circumstances than before, and it also
If you have been convicted of a felony, you know likely are aware of the post-sentence repercussions that a conviction can have. Because of the stigma of a conviction, it is much harder to find a job or housing and build a stable lifestyle once you have finished serving your sentence. Even those who had
Recently, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris released a report detailing the state’s efforts to identify and prevent organized crime activities originating in Mexico and other countries. One of the key findings of her report is that California is now the country’s major point of entry for methamphetamine manufactured by Mexican cartels. While the report praises the
Critics contend state DMV should not be able to suspend licenses if individuals have their DUI cases dismissed. A DUI conviction in California carries some strong penalties, which includes the possibility of a license suspension. Those charged with the crime might take very aggressive measures to offer up a defense against these allegations, but, some
There are many different factors which can affect how quickly a person’s blood alcohol content rises after consuming alcohol. When a person in California consumes an alcoholic beverage, the alcohol is absorbed directly into the walls of the stomach and small intestine. After this occurs, the alcohol goes into the bloodstream and then travels throughout
By pleading guilty in a criminal case, a defendant may prevent an unduly harsh penalty and receive a sentence that reflects the nature of the crime. When a person has been charged with a criminal offense in Redding, California, the process of the criminal trial may delay the conviction for months without ending in a
A federal ruling that the DEA’s prosecution of lawful medical marijuana operations was wrongful could help protect businesses and patients in California. For nearly two decades, cultivation and use of cannabis for medicinal purposes have been legal in California. However, this has not prevented federal authorities from prosecuting patients, dispensaries and other parties who were
There are many disadvantages to representing oneself in a criminal case. There are many rights that are granted under the Constitution. The Sixth Amendment, in particular, gives people in California the empowerment to act as their own legal representative. However, Cornell University Law School’s Legal Information Institute points out that a judge does have authority
Technological advances are being used to gather evidence and support criminal charges, but are the methods legal? Social media has become a part of our everyday lives. Taking a moment to update accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram is as normal as picking up a gallon of milk at the supermarket or stopping at a
