Many crimes are committed while someone is in custody, either at Los Angeles Men's County Jail, Wayside, Twin Towers, or one of the surrounding prisons. They commit an offense in jail or prison, and then they're sent to court.
Whether it be stabbing somebody with a shank, attacking somebody physically, doing something to one of the deputies, or moving drugs in the jail is one that occurs all the time. I've also seen people doing other things who work inside the prisons.
With a wealth of experience, I've successfully defended numerous individuals charged with crimes inside the jail, be it the inmates, the deputies, or any support staff.
My extensive experience has made me intimately familiar with the legal procedures, defense strategies, and the process of obtaining evidence to defend your case. I'm adept at negotiating resolutions with prosecutors when it's in the best interest of my client.
So, if you or a loved one is charged with a crime in one of the county jails in Los Angeles or is in one of the courts in LA and is looking for an attorney because you're being accused of committing a crime within one of the jails or prisons, you've come to the right place. Our Los Angeles criminal lawyers will review this topic further below.
Bringing Contraband into a Jail – Penal Code 4573.5 PC
Numerous items are prohibited from being owned by inmates housed in jail or prison. Some are for safety reasons, while others are not allowed due to the inmate's punishment.
Bringing prohibited items into a jail or prison is a serious offense that can result in criminal charges under California Penal Code 4573.5 PC. This felony offense carries the risk of imprisonment and substantial fines.
Contraband is described as alcohol or any drugs other than controlled substances and includes over-the-counter medication. Controlled substances are illicit drugs that the regulated by the government.
Anyone can face a charge of bringing contraband to a jail or prison regardless of who they are, such as a jail guard bringing drugs into jail to sell to inmates.
PC 4573.5 applies to anyone who often enters California jails or prisons, such as visitors to a prison, guards who work there, and prisoners in a correctional facility.
Ignorance of the law is not a valid defense if you are charged with delivering contraband to a prisoner. These laws apply to any jail, prison, or facility operated by the California Department of Corrections or local county jails.
What Are Some Related Crimes?
Some of these related criminal offenses are listed below:
- Penal Code 4573 PC: Bringing drugs into a jail or prison. This law is specific to controlled substances like heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone. If convicted, you are facing a felony that carries up to four years in state prison.
- Penal Code 4550 PC: Rescuing a Prisoner. This is the statute used by prosecutors if you help someone escape prison, jail, or from the lawful custody of an officer. If the prisoner faced the death penalty, they could be sentenced to two, three, or four years in state prison. All other scenarios include up to one year in county jail.
- Health and Safety Code 11350 HS – possessing a controlled substance,
- Health and Safety Code 11351 HS – drug possession for sales,
- Health and Safety Code 11377(a) HS – possess methamphetamine,
- Health and Safety Code 11378 HS – possess meth for sale,
- Health and Safety Code 11379 HS – sale or transportation of meth,
- Health and Safety Code 11173 HS – prescription fraud,
- Health and Safety Code 11364 HS – possess of drug paraphernalia,
- Health and Safety Code 11352 HS – sale or transportation of drugs,
- Health and Safety Code 11379.6 HS– manufacturing a controlled substance,
- Health and Safety Code 11370.9 HS – money laundering in drug crimes,
- Health and Safety Code 11550 HS – under the influence of drugs.
Initial Strategy Meeting to Review the Details
If our law firm is retained early in the case process, it might be possible to start negotiations with the District Attorney's Office to convince them not to file formal criminal charges in the first place.
This is commonly known as “prefiling intervention” and entails advocacy with law enforcement detectives and the filing prosecutor to get the charges reduced or entirely dismissed before the first court date.
In any prefiling intervention, timing is crucial as we have to intervene with the people who make the decisions before a formal filing. If you or a family member has been accused of a crime involving jail or prison in California, contact us to review the details and legal options.
Pick up the phone now. Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. If you're a family member, we can meet and discuss the case and get everything together. If you decide to hire me, I'll go out and see your loved one, get all the discovery in the case, talk to the prosecutor, and get their version of events so we can get a strategy together.
Judges and prosecutors take cases involving crimes committed in jails or prisons very seriously. It's crucial to have an attorney who is well-versed in handling these cases and knows how to navigate the legal system. The prosecutors who handle these cases are often specialized in this area , making it even more important to have a skilled defense attorney on your side.
It's a special unit within the DA's office in LA County, so you want to make sure you have an attorney who is familiar with dealing with that unit and knows some of the defenses that can be deployed when crimes are purported to be committed inside a jail or prison.
It's crucial to have a defense lawyer with experience, a proven track record, and a deep understanding of how to navigate the complexities of a case involving a crime in a jail or prison. If you're in need of such expertise, don't hesitate to reach out. Make the call now and take the first step towards a robust defense.
If you have a case related to a crime in a jail or prison in LA County, ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding. The Hedding Law Firm is based in Los Angeles, California, and we offer a free case consultation by phone or using the contact form.
