One big area where prosecutors are allowed to get a lot of extra time on a sentence is sentencing enhancements. Examples of this are gang enhancements.
They can sometimes carry up to 10 years in prison on top of whatever the person is being charged with. Other sentencing enhancements that have been eliminated include:
- gun enhancements,
- prior prison enhancements,
- out on bail enhancements
The new Los Angeles County District Attorney's office has struck all of these. When I say struck, I mean his office will no longer pursue these enhancements.
They're no longer going to file them along with the charges, and if there are any pending cases right now, those allegations will be struck out of the Complaint and not used against a criminal defendant.
Focus on Treatment Rather than Jail
So, it is an incredible world now for criminal defendants in Los Angeles county because these enhancements can carry many years in prison.
Part of the thinking behind striking the enhancements is that people are just getting too big of sentences. So, instead of warehousing people for long sentences in prison, where our prisons are overwhelmed right now, and even our county jail is overwhelmed. This new District Attorney wants to:
- try to treat people,
- help people,
- provide programs for people instead of putting them in jail.
Special Directive 20-14 Resentencing
Gun enhancement is another big one, where you're looking at 10 years for using a gun during a crime — those gun enhancements have been struck as well.
So, it's really a great time to get the lowest possible sentence in a criminal case right now because not only have these enhancements been struck, but a number of other changes to the District Attorney's policy have occurred under Special Directive 20-14 Resentencing.
This just happened recently. It's not 100% clear how it will impact all cases, but with these sentencing enhancements in Los Angeles, you're now in a much better position to lessen your sentence.
Obviously, you'll want to get a criminal defense attorney who can fight for you and put you in the best possible position. I've been defending sentencing enhancements in Los Angeles County for over 27 years.
Criminal Defense in Los Angeles, CA
My office is based in Los Angeles county. If you or a loved one is charged with a serious crime, pick up the phone. Ask to speak to Ron Hedding. Set up a meeting with me.
Really, what we need to do is talk about whether any of these sentencing enhancements apply to you or one of your loved ones and whether or not they fit within the framework of the new District Attorney's policy.
Let's see what we can do to get you the best result possible and also to realize that these are not the only changes that have taken place in LA County.
The District Attorney's office is so important because they're the ones that prosecute felony cases in LA.
Now, they're also talking about not even prosecuting misdemeanor cases anymore.
So, get an attorney by our side so you can be in the best possible position to get the best possible result.
Hedding Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm located in Los Angeles County at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436.
Contact us for a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0979.
