Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Amidst the economic doom and gloom, there's good news for folks who live in the City of Angels. Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton announced last week that crime in the city of Los Angeles has declined by 3% with gang-related crime dropping 11% since this time last year. Violent crime is down 4.8% overall, Bratton told the Los Angeles Police Commission, a civilian panel that oversees the LAPD. He provided the following breakdown on Los Angeles the crime statistics:

• Homicide down 8.7%


• Gang-related murder down 26.6%


• Rape down 14%


• Aggravated assault down 7.1%


• Robbery down 1.8%


• Burglary down 1.9%


• Grand theft auto down 4.4%


• Burglary from vehicles down 2.1%


• Personal theft down 1.4%

While the newly released figures are laudatory, criminal defense attorney Stephen Rodriguez warns that the L.A. crime decrease may be short-lived. National law enforcement experts are already noticing an increase in misdemeanor crimes like petty theft and shoplifting. Felony robbery, particularly bank robbery, is also on the rise nationally. People hard hit by the economic collapse, particularly the growing legions of unemployed, are turning to crime, particularly theft, as a last resort for the money and things they need.

Escalating home foreclosures -- experts appearing on CBS' 60 Minutes last night estimated that 8 million American will lose their homes in the next year -- are forcing more people into the streets, many with nowhere else to go. Homeless shelters are full, and some have even been forced to close as the donations that support them dry up. Soup kitchens are serving record crowds. Many of these people do not qualify for assistance programs that are already struggling to serve growing numbers of needy people. Adding insult to injury, financially strapped cities and counties are being forced to curtail services just when they're needed most.

Put together, national law enforcement experts say it's a recipe for disaster. Any time the fabric of society tears, any time social systems break down, crime increases. When they feel there are no options, when they are desperate to provide for their families and their children, normally law-abiding citizens will turn to crime. If you become a victim of economic pressures you can't control, seek the services of expert Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer Stephen Rodriguez. He'll fight for your rights.