Penalties for Weapons and Drugs
Posted on August 11, 2008
Filed Under Celebrities, Drugs, Los Angeles, Weapons |
Weapon and drug infractions often go together, and recently a high profile case of weapons and drug possession was reported. Rapper Yung Berg was busted in New York City after police investigated a complaint by a limo driver. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of marijuana and menacing.
Weapon charges in California are governed by various laws and so bring different penalties. Simple possession charges can carry up to a year in prison, if the charges aren’t coupled with other infractions. However, possessing a semi-automatic or automatic weapon can carry up to eight years. Weapons defined as assault weapons also carry with them serious penalties, both for possession and the use of them.
Possession of illegal drugs, illegal pharmaceuticals or drug paraphernalia is illegal in California, and the type of amount of drug will determine the penalty. One of the many penalties for drug possession and distribution, which include fines and prison terms, is asset forfeiture. Forfeiture laws have created a legal system in which federal and state officials now have the power to seize your business, home, bank account, records, and personal property, all without indictment, hearing or trial…Everything you have can be taken away at the whim of one or two federal or state officials operating in secret.
Police are not required to arrest or even charge those whose assets are being seized. In fact, during a 10-month national study, The Pittsburgh Press found that 80% of people who were forced to forfeit property were never charged with a crime. In addition, there is no dollar cap on forfeiture - leaving citizens open to punishment that is greatly disproportional to the alleged crime. Defending this practice, the police and DEA claim they go after “big-time” criminals, however only 17% of the items seized by the DEA were valued at more than $50,000.
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