If you're accused of using or selling drugs but didn't fight an arrest or get caught with a weapon, you'll likely be named a non-violent offender.
Criminal Law
California is among 23 states where marijuana is legal for medical purposes. There are another 16 states in which cannabis-derived oils are legal for certain patients.
It's no secret that America has a drug problem. While street drugs like heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine often come to mind when discussing the war on drugs, there seem to be just as many problems with the abuse of prescription drugs.
We have previously written about the problem of wrongful conviction in America (which usually results in decades of wrongful incarceration). It would be comforting to believe that wrongful convictions are the product of simple human error made by police and prosecutors who had nothing but good intentions. Unfortunately, that is rarely ever the reality.
Most of us hate the idea of getting pulled over and questioned by police. Even if you didn't violate a traffic law or commit some other offense, you may be worried about receiving an erroneous citation.
In recent years, many highly publicized criminal cases have involved defendants suffering from mental illness.
Our justice system is predicated on the idea that the accused are innocent until proven guilty.
If you have been arrested and charged with alleged drunk driving, you may feel backed into a corner. You may ask: Do I have any legal options other than a potential plea deal? You may believe that the evidence against you is too strong.
Though the laws regarding drugs are becoming more relaxed, specifically in regard to marijuana, in many states, at the federal level the War on Drugs rages on. Someone charged in federal court with drug trafficking or manufacturing may face a long time behind bars if he or she is convicted or pleads guilty.
America has the unfortunate distinction of incarcerating more of its own citizens than any other country on earth. The problem has been especially vexing here in California, which has long suffered from serious prison overcrowding.