You may not be aware of this, but the justices of the Supreme Court of the United States may have a say in whether or not your friends or family have their jail sentences cut short. The highest court in the country ordered the release of ovr 30,000 prisoners due to overcrowding and terrible prison conditions. This has many Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorneys looking for opportunities to get their clients out of jail. Of those likely to be released early, low level and non-violent offenders are probably at the top of the list, including people arrested for possession of marijuana and medical marijuana. The Drug Policy Forum of California stated that California maintains almost 25,000 prisoners for inherently non-violent drug offenses according to recent information from the Department of Corrections. For any Defense Attorney who is currently representing someone charged with a low level drug offense, or who previously represented someone who got an unfair deal, this news could lead to their clients' freedom! The drug policy organization blames the inhumane overcrowding that led to the Supreme Court order on drug laws that "did not exist prior to the 20th century." A third of the 25,000 prisoners are being held, allegedly, for simply possession while the rest had more serious convictions. Drug convicts in prison have gone down from 28 percent in 1999 to 15 percent today thanks to Prop 36 which requires treatment instead of prison for minor drug offenses. Skilled Attorneys have been able to use that law to help their clients avoid jail time and ruining their lives. Another bill put forth by San Francisco state Assemblyman Tom Ammiano would make cultivation of marijuana a misdemeanor instead of a felony. If you have a family member who was sentenced to prison for seemingly low level crimes, you should contact a skilled lawyer who could help take advantage of this Supreme Court decision. If you or someone you know has been arrested, contact Kestenbaum Eisner & Gorin, LLP by calling 877-781-1570. With over 50 years of combined experience, our team can provide a top notch criminal defense for any legal challenge. Call us today! Tagged as: los angeles criminal defense attorney