Google: (Your County, Town or City), Marijuana, Arrests, Grow, Growing, Cultivation, Distribution.
That should give you some idea as to what's happening in your area. The media loves to cover this kind of thing... They may as well be called the propaganda machine for the war on drugs.
Also, watch the election coverage for your area next week and see if your Sheriff and local Judges are Democrat or Republican. Not that Democrats are lax on this sort of thing all the time... But, Republicans tend to be much harder most of the time. That will also give you a feel for the local population. If it's Republican by a landslide across the board, then you are in a VERY conservative area, which isn't the best thing.
Check the state by state laws for your area on this website...
NORML In some areas the number of plants you have can be the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony.
Being that your first post was "...
is there a way to search local crimes for people that have been caught in my local area for growing pot and what their eventual sentencing was?", that tells me that you are being cautious which is a very good thing... which leads me to believe that you've probably already seen this next statement... But, if I didn't throw it out there just to be sure, I would be doing you a great disservice ....
DON'T TELL ANYONE! There's a million reasons to keep it to yourself and not one for telling a soul. With the exception of a grow partner and even then, people will do some weird shit and say all kinds of things when they are facing hard time. My wife is the ONLY one that knows and that's simply because we live in the same house and spouses can't be compelled to testify against each other.
People everywhere grow, some get busted, most get high! Be smart and you'll be safe.
Oh, and welcome to R.I.U. !
