Could Real Criminal Justice Reform Be Ahead for Arizona?
Arizona policy leaders met recently to discuss possible changes to the Arizona criminal justice system that would include sentence reform, according to reports. While the participants in these discussions have political views that range across both ends of the spectrum, the group met to share their commitment to build strong, safe neighborhoods and reduce the…
MCSO Receives Grant To Combat DUI
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office announced recently that it received a $110,000 grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The money will be used to enhance the efforts of DUI enforcement, including public education. According to the Sheriff’s Office, which has arrested 777 people in the past year for DUI, the grant will…
Does Arizona Really Have The Toughest DUI Laws?
Arizona has long been known as a state with incredibly tough DUI laws. However, recent evidence shows that Arizona may truly have earned the title of “toughest DUI state in the nation.” Multiple studies have suggested that overall Arizona has the country’s harshest penalties for DUI. While other states may allow DUIs to stay on…
Sisters Face Prison in Rental Scheme
Two sisters in Phoenix and Avondale face prison sentences after pleading guilty to the crime of conspiracy in connection with a rental scheme to capitalize on undocumented immigrants, according to recent reports. The two women were sentenced to 33 months and 63 months for their part in the management of 279 rental units between 2008…
Man Arrested for Attempting To Burn Down House
A man was arrested when he allegedly assaulted his wife and attempted to burn down his own home, according to recent reports. The 44-year-old Phoenix man was charged with assault in connection with an alleged attack on his wife in their home at Shangri La Road and 26th Street. He then was said to have…
Court Considers Medical Marijuana Case
The battle over equating the use of medical marijuana with intoxicated driving charges continues, with the Arizona Supreme Court being asked to consider whether people with medical marijuana cards can be prosecuted for driving while having traces of the drug in their systems, according to a recent report. The latest case stems from an appeal…
How To Avoid Holiday DUI Charges
The holidays are once again here and with them comes the increased risk of a DUI charge. More than any other time of year, the holiday season is a time for saturation patrols and roadblocks that lead to numerous DUI arrests and convictions. It is important to take the right steps to protect yourself from…
New Guidelines Release Prisoners from Jail
New federal sentencing guidelines will release thousands of federal prisoners over the next few months, according to recent reports. Supporters of the new measures state that the guidelines are helping to release people who should not have been in jail in the first place, due to old sentencing guidelines that should no longer apply. Detractors…
Maricopa County Crime Rates Continue to Drop
Maricopa County’s crime rates continued their downward trend, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In fact, the county’s drop in crime rates was significant greater than that of the United States as a whole for 2014. That year, Maricopa County experienced a 3.8 percent drop in violent crime and a 5.5 percent drop in…