Drug Possession Drug Distribution Possession with Intent to Sell Drug Trafficking Misdemeanor Drug Charges Felony Drug Charges Cultivation of Marijuana Drug Manufacturing Drug Diversion

Los Angeles Drug Arrest Attorneys

Drug Arrest and Charge Statistics

The California Safety Code defines drug-related crimes and sets forth the penalties for these crimes. Because of prevalent drug use and distribution in some parts of California, law enforcement officers and prosecutors are tough on drug crime defendants. Many of these crimes are felony drug charges, which carry the possibility of prison time or steep fines. Convicted offenders also have to register for a drug offenders list, which makes it difficult – if not impossible – to get a good job or qualify for student loans after a conviction.

Arrest Incidence

Prosecutors and law enforcement officials paint a stark picture of life in California, citing increased youth crime and drug crimes as one of the reasons they are so tough on drug crime defendants. The statistics tell a different story, however. Data published by the State of California Department of Justice indicates that the number of drug arrests in 2009 is lower than the number of drug arrests made for most years in the '70s, '80s and '90s.

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In 2009, police arrested 485.9 juveniles per 100,000 population at risk, compared with 1435.8 in 1974 and 661.6 in 1996. The statistics on adult drug arrests are similar, with police arresting 899.4 adults per 100,000 population at risk in 2009. This is fewer arrests than the 1352.4 per 100,000 population at risk in 1984 and the 1125.3 per 100,000 population at risk in 1994.

Total Arrests

In 2008, the number of drug arrests in California totaled 270, 326, with 141,246 misdemeanor cases and 129,080 felony cases. Marijuana arrests made up a total of 6.3 percent of all drug arrests in the state. Narcotics arrests accounted for 19.7 percent of the drug arrests that year, with a total of 53,135 felony cases. The 57,233 dangerous drug cases – such as those related to methamphetamines – accounted for 21.2 percent of the arrests. Despite what seems like a high number of arrests, California experienced a decrease of 14.7 percent in felony drug arrests, according to a February 2010 report by the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis.

Declining Arrests

Despite the increase in marijuana arrests from 1990 to 2008, arrests for other drug offenses have declined substantially. In 1990, law enforcement officers made 86,708 arrests for possession of all drugs other than marijuana. In 2008, police made only 79,858 arrests for this type of crime, a decrease of 29 percent. Officers made 1128,732 arrests for the manufacture or sale of all drugs other than marijuana in 1990. The number of arrests for this type of drug crime decreased to 111,191 in 2008, a decrease of 33 percent.

Upholding Justice through Effective Defense Strategies

Despite the fact that drug arrests have declined in recent years, law enforcement officials continue to lobby for harsh penalties against those convicted of misdemeanor and felony drug offenses. If you or a loved one is facing a drug charge, contacting an experienced Los Angeles drug crime defense lawyer should be your first action after the arrest. California's drug laws are very complex, making the advice of a qualified attorney invaluable when it comes to defending yourself against these serious charges. Call Takakjian & Sitkoff, LLP at 1-866-790-5858 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss the charges pending against you.

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