From shoplifting to violent crimes, bail bonds agents deal with a variety of crimes.
But one crime seems to be more common than the others, drug possession.
“The most common crime we see is drug possesion,” said Inessa Chavez, vice president of All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita. “People are often pulled over in their cars and caught with it.”
Bail bonds agents at All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita see about 100 clients a month. a majority of those are for drug possession charges.
“Things might be changing though,” Chavez said. “When California citizens voted in Proposition 47, it brought drug possession charges down to a misdemeanor.”
Porp. 47 was voted in on Nov. 4 of 2014. With the new law, most felony charges were brought down to misdemeanors.
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies who would normally pull someone over and arrest them if the person is found with drugs now have to let the person go with only a citation.
Chavez and her team at All American Bail Bonds in Santa Clarita have recently seen an increase in violent crimes and abuse charges.
“It’s hits home,” Chavez said. “It’s difficult to see our community not getting the help they would have gotten if they had been arrested for drug possession.”
Possession of GHB, known as the “date rape” drug, heroin, concentrated cannabis, methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine and other drugs are now a misdemeanor.
Now, when someone is found with drugs, they are given a citation and a court date.
“Previously in court, the person would be put into a drug rehabilitation program like the ones offered by Action Family Counseling,” Chavez said. “Now, offenders don’t have that incentive to get better.”
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