Los Angeles is a large county with 29 different criminal courthouses and a large number of different law enforcement agencies.  Unlike many other large cities, the City of Los Angeles does not occupy an entire county.  in fact, LA County has many other cities, including large cities like Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Monica, and more.  Law enforcement begins with the police departments who make arrests and investigate crimes.  Cases are then prosecuted in court by various prosecuting agencies.  All criminal cases in LA County are prosecuted in branches of the LA Superior Court.

FELONY PROSECUTIONS
In LA County, felony cases are almost always prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.  The District Attorney is an elected position in Los Angeles, currently held by Jackie Lacy.  The DA's office is organized into various branch offices and units.  In some instances, the California Attorney General's office will prosecute crimes that occupy more than one county within the state.  For cases that could potentially be filed as misdemeanors or felonies, the District Attorney will usually get the first opportunity to file or reject the case.  When the District Attorney declines to file felony charges, the case may still be filed as a misdemeanor.  More about felonies and misdemeanors.  Those facing felony charges could suffer very serious consequences, and need a passionate, aggressive attorney on their side to protect them from prosecution.  Contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar now for a Free Consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.

MISDEMEANOR PROSECUTIONS
The District Attorney's Office does handle some misdemeanor prosecutions.  Cases originating out of unincorporated sections of LA County or cities that do not have their own misdemeanor prosecutors.  In the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Attorney handles misdemeanor prosecutions.  This is a very busy job, with a vast majority of DUI, hit and run, driving on a suspended license, and domestic violence cases being misdemeanors.  Additionally, since the passage of Prop 47, all drug possession and theft of property valued below $950 cases are now misdemeanors.  Many municipalities within Los Angeles have their own prosecuting attorneys for misdemeanor cases.  Among them are:  Burbank City Attorney, Pasadena City Prosecutor, Santa Monica City Attorney,  The DA prosecutes misdemeanors in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Malibu, Topanga Canyon, Los Hills, San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale, Glendale, Altadena, most of the San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles, Pomona, Compton, Culver City and more.  Misdemeanor charges can still carry jail time, leave a criminal record and affect employment and professional licensing.

LAPD - LAW ENVORCEMENT IN LA CITY
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is the largest law enforcement agency in California, with over 10,000 sworn officers.  It is the third largest municipal police department after the NYPD and Chicago PD.  The LAPD provides law enforcement services to the City of Los Angeles Only, with 21 different stations, serving communities within the San Fernando Valley, the West Side, Hollywood, Downtown, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Koreatown, Westlake, Venice, South LA and San Pedro.  There are also specialized units and task forces dedicated to specific types of crimes throughout LA, including air support, emergency services, major crimes, counter-terrorism, K-9 and more.  The LAPD has been frequently featured in popular culture, from movies and television shows to music.  Additionally, scandals have been widely publicized in the media, including use of excessive force and corruption.

LASD - COUNTY WIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT
The LA County Sheriff's Department is a county-wide department with a variety of different duties.  The Sheriff's department has over 9,000 sworn officers and over 18,000 total employees.  The LASD maintains the county jails, housing inmates who have been sentenced to county jail terms or await trial while held on bail.  Courtroom bailiffs are also deputies of the LA County Sheriff's Department.  LASD also patrols certain areas of LA County, including Lancaster/Palmdale, East Los Angeles, Malibu, Topanga Canyon, Lost Hills, Compton, and several other portions of LA County.  In addition, LASD has jurisdiction over crimes taking place at Metro stations and aboard Metro trains and buses.  Like the LAPD, LASD has been involved in many scandals, most recently resulting in the arrest and criminal charges against top-ranking officials, including former Sheriff Lee Baca.

CHP - STATEWIDE HIGHWAY ENFORCEMENT
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) polices the freeways throughout the State of California.  With over 7,000 sworn officers, the CHP maintains a strong presence in LA County, known for its traffic.  CHP officers conduct a large number of traffic stops for traffic violations, DUI and end up investigating a wide range of offenses that they discover during these investigatory detentions.  Highway Patrol officers are thoroughly trained in DUI investigations and typically conduct the most thorough DUI examinations.  Conversely, they may have less training and experience with other crimes.

INDEPENDENT CITIES IN LOS ANGELES HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE FORCES
The following cities in LA County have their own police departments: Burbank, Glendale, San Fernando, , , Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pomona, Long Beach, Pasadena,San Gabriel, Monrovia,  Alhambra, Monterey Park, El Monte, Montebello, Arcadia, Azusa, Whittier, West Covina, Downey, Inglewood, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Torrance, El Segundo, and many more.  These cities have police forces of varying sizes.  Police departments in these cities have jurisdiction have complete jurisdiction over criminal law enforcement, except for highways (CHP) and Metro stations (LASD).  Additionally, the DA's office employs investigators who gather evidence of crimes throughout LA County.  Statewide and federal investigations/arrests can happen anywhere.

If you or a loved one has been arrested or charged with a crime in Los Angeles, it is important to have a passionate, knowledgeable criminal defense attorney on your side.  Contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Loncar for a free consultation with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney.

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