Category: Uncategorized

October was domestic violence awareness month. With that in mind, it is important to understand what domestic violence actually represents, along with some ways a victims of such actions can seek help. Domestic violence, most often perpetuated by a spouse or domestic partner, can have several definitions—one does not have to be physically assaulted for the … Continue reading Domestic Violence: The Definition and Potential Consequences

To not steal may be a commandment embedded in the social fabric, but not all stealing is considered equal in the eyes of the law. There are different levels to stealing, and they are punished as such. The simplest type of theft is known as petty theft, or more formally, larceny. Petty theft is the taking of … Continue reading The Basics of Petty Theft

Over the last several weeks, President Obama has commuted the sentence of nearly 90 inmates, mostly nonviolent drug offenders. His actions have sparked a number of conversations about America’s prison problem and caused many state officials to question whether or not we are doing it “right.” California’s governor, Jerry Brown, recently joined the conversations in … Continue reading California Governor Says Crime Laws Due for Overhaul

Prostitution is often referred to as the world’s oldest profession, and there are several arguments that state-sanctioned prostitution should be legalized across the country. Currently, Nevada is the only state that allows legal prostitution, meaning that it is a punishable offense in California. This is delineated in the state penal code, which states that any person … Continue reading Prostitution: The Basics

If your child has been accused of a crime, it can be a difficult time for everyone. Most families will be faced with tough questions regarding where the accused will be tried, and how to proceed. Most families will also be worried about the future for their child, regarding his or her future criminal record … Continue reading The Importance of an Attorney for an Accused Child

The idea that the rate of domestic violence increases during the holidays is nothing new, and if often brought to the attention of a national audience by sensational local news and media. Yet the sensationalism around such cases may in fact be warranted—domestic violence rates do tend to tick up during the holidays, as evidenced by … Continue reading The Spike in Domestic Violence During the Holidays

While the trend may not be new or as old as the Internet itself, sexual crimes committed on the Internet have garnered more professional and social attention as of late. There are several types of Internet sex crimes, which extend into definition child pornography, though this may be the most publicized example of the crime … Continue reading Prevalence of Online Sexual Crimes

Each year around the holiday season, traffic on the roadways increases significantly.  It is estimated that 30 percent of all Americans travel during holiday celebrations.  As you can imagine, with a surge in travel also comes a rise in DUI-related traffic incidents.  In 2013 alone, 10,076 people were killed in alcohol-related vehicular accidents, accounting for … Continue reading Drunk Driving and the Holiday Season

Fraud may be a common crime, though it is not without victims and not without serious consequence. The idea of “defrauding” someone often brings to mind images of people selling fake Rolexes from open jackets on a dark street corner, but the reality of fraud is much less noticeable, even when it is happening to … Continue reading Identity Theft as a Form of Fraud

California has long had one of the strictest policies against juvenile crime in the country, but this has begun to change. As recently as 2010, more than 200 of the state’s youth were locked up, serving life prison terms with no possibility of parole, for crimes that they had committed before they were 18 years old. … Continue reading Changing Policy Toward Juvenile Crime in California

In the mid-1990s, California was among 24 states to enact what would become known as a “Three Strikes” sentencing law. The laws were passed in an effort to curb recidivism rates and rates of repeat offenders. For the most part, these laws provided that a defendant who had been convicted of a serious felony would be sentenced … Continue reading The Questionable Legality of Three Strikes Laws

When you are arrested for DUI in the state of California, the procedure from the time of being pulled over to being charged is rapid—and a significant portion of your immediate future hangs in the balance of those few minutes. Immediately following an arrest, the officer must immediately forward a copy of the suspension (or … Continue reading Steps of Receiving a DUI in California: Know Your Rights

There is no question that domestic abuse is a real problem in today’s world. Therefore, if you have been slapped with a domestic violence charge, it can seem impossible to prove your innocence. With high-profile cases making headlines every day—and popular opinion often decidedly on the side of the accuser—it may feel like an uphill battle without … Continue reading Beating a False Accusation of Domestic Violence

Petty theft has long been one of the most common non-violent crimes. It covers a wide range of offenses, including shoplifting. Though common-knowledge is that this type of petty crime is, in large part, perpetrated by younger offenders looking for a thrill or way, presumably, to rebel, shoplifting statistics, for example, show that only one-quarter … Continue reading Kill Switch Law Decreases Smartphone Thefts

Under California law it is illegal to drive under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. Drugs can be anything from illegal substances like methamphetamine, prescription drugs like Vicodin, or even over the counter cough medicine. If you are taking something that impairs your ability to drive, you can be arrested and convicted of Driving … Continue reading DUI and Drugs

If you are arrested for having drugs in your possession, you could be facing serious consequences. Drug possession is legally known as possession of a controlled substance. The exact penalties will vary depending on the type and amount of the drug you are accused of possessing. There are many different defenses to a charge of the … Continue reading Defenses to Drug Possession in California

If you have been accused of domestic violence, it can be a long road to clear your name and to move on. Because of the nature of the crime, it can be difficult to absolve yourself of the accusation, even if you are found not guilty in a court of law. This can manifest in … Continue reading Being Falsely Accused of Domestic Violence

If you have been accused of driving under the influence in California, there are several things you need to know to know about your rights when it comes to chemical testing. Whenever you get behind the wheel of a car in the United States, you are under the auspices of implied consent. Understanding Implied Consent Every … Continue reading Submitting to Sobriety Testing When Pulled Over for DUI

The California Three Strikes law was imposed in an effort to curb the rate of crimes perpetrated by repeat offenders. In practice, however, it often led to people being severely sentenced for crimes that are usually relatively minor. For example, people whose first two strikes were convictions for felony offenses, such as domestic violence or rape, … Continue reading Three Strikes Law May Be on the Ballot This Year

In 1990, a law was passed in California that made it possible for law enforcement authorities to immediately suspend the license of any person caught driving under the influence. This law, known as Administrative Per Se (APS), was implemented as a means to address and combat the state’s 1,500 annual crash-related deaths in which alcohol … Continue reading Administrative Per Se Laws for DUI in California