Every crime in California is defined by a specific code section. Our attorneys explain the law, penalties and best defense strategies for every major crime in California.
Crimes by Code
Every crime in California is defined by a specific code section. Our attorneys explain the law, penalties and best defense strategies for every major crime in California.
California DUI
DUI arrests don't always lead to convictions in court. Police officer mistakes, faulty breathalyzers and crime lab errors may get your charges reduced or dismissed. Visit our California DUI page to learn more.
Post Conviction
A criminal record can affect job, immigration, licensing and even housing opportunities. In this section, we offer solutions for clearing up your prior record.
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Drug overdoses in California kill more people than car wrecks. In Orange County alone, 2,078 people died from overdoses between 2008 and 2012. Many people who die from an overdose could have survived if they had received medical attention immediately. That’s why California has a law that shields individuals from some drug charges if they call 911 or get medical help for someone who is ODing.
According to the California Department of Public Health, about 15,725 Californians died from drug overdoses between 2008 to 2012. By comparison, about 14,860 Californians died in traffic incidents during that same period.
Often, individuals who are overdosing don’t get the medical help that could save their life because either they or the folks around them are afraid to call 911 or go to an ER because they are afraid they will get charged with a drug crime.
The California legislature noted the problem when it passed a 2012 law to encourage people to seek help in overdose situations:
“Many overdose fatalities occur because peers delay or forgo calling 911 or seeking emergency assistance for fear of arrest or police involvement, which researchers continually identify as the most significant barrier to the ideal first response of calling emergency services. Furthermore, if criminal punishment is intended to deter drug abuse, it is clearly too late to deter such abuse when a person is already suffering from an overdose.”
California Health and Safety Code Section 11376.5, which includes the statement above, was passed in order to:
“encourage a witness of a drug-related overdose to call 911 or seek other emergency assistance in a timely manner in order to save the life of an overdose victim by establishing a state policy exempting minor drug possession or drug paraphernalia possession from criminal prosecution in situations involving medical emergencies.”
Specifically, Section 11376.5 provides that it shall not be a California crime:
Other than as set forth above, however, “no other immunities or protections from arrest or prosecution for violations of the law are intended or may be inferred,” reads the statute. This means that the overdose victim or the witnesses who seek medical help can still be charged with other California drug crimes, including:
If you have been charged with a drug crime in Orange County, please give one of our experienced Orange County drug crimes attorneys a call today to discuss your situation.
A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.