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October 22, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

People Executed on Death Row, Later Found innocent The death penalty has long been a contentious issue in America, with strong arguments on both sides. Supporters argue that it serves as a deterrent and provides justice...
October 19, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Soon You May Be Able to Bypass the Bar Exam The State Bar of California is considering a groundbreaking change that could revolutionize the process of becoming a licensed lawyer in the state. In a unanimous...
October 18, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

CODIS: The National DNA Database System The Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) is a powerful tool used in the United States to store and analyze DNA profiles for criminal justice purposes. Created and maintained by the...
October 18, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

What is the Crime of Luring? Luring or enticing a minor is a serious crime that involves the act of persuading, enticing, or luring a minor to engage in sexual activities or participate in child pornography....
October 17, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

DUI on Cough Syrup? Really? Cold and flu season is a challenging time for many, but luckily, over-the-counter cough and cold medicine can provide relief from symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, and congestion. However, it’s essential...
October 16, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Approved in 1970, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies to all public agencies at the state, regional, or local level. CEQA mandates that both public and private projects requiring discretionary...
October 09, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Misdemeanor Probation Violation Misdemeanor probation, also termed summary probation, is a form of alternative sentencing that is typically granted for misdemeanor offenses. When facing conviction for a misdemeanor, the presiding judge has the discretion to impose...
October 09, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Alan Colie was found not guilty due to ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ involving a Youtube prank gone wrong. What Are ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ in Criminal Law? Extenuating circumstances, also known as mitigating factors, refer to pertinent facts or details...
October 05, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

How Private is Your Internet Usage? It is a common misconception among users that their browser history remains private, particularly if they utilize incognito mode or regularly clear their browsing history. However, it is essential to...
October 03, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Suing the Police for Excessive Force In general, an officer’s actions while on duty are shielded from legal liability through the legal principle of governmental immunity. This principle essentially states that the government cannot be sued...
October 03, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Felony Probation Violation Felony probation is a penal measure applicable in California for specific individuals who have been convicted of a crime. Rather than serving their sentence in a correctional facility, they are released on the...
September 26, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

A Disturbing 2022 Trend Continues to Skyrocket in 2023 In an increasingly digital age, the elderly population has become a prime target for fraudsters and scammers. Financial scams aimed at older adults have skyrocketed, resulting in...
September 15, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Automated Biometric Identification Systems (ABIS) Biometric technology has revolutionized the way we identify individuals and verify their identities. One of the key advancements in this field is the development of Automated Biometric Identification Systems (ABIS). ABIS...
September 14, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) Forensic science sometimes plays a big role in criminal investigations, providing crucial evidence that can solve a crime. One of the key technological advancements in forensic science is the Integrated Ballistics...
September 13, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

The Difference Between a Police “Search” and a “Frisk” The main difference between being searched and being frisked is that a search is more thorough and extensive than a frisk. A search and seizure is when...
September 13, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

How to Get a Hardship License After a DUI/DWI Conviction in California Your driver’s license will likely be taken away if you are found guilty of a DUI in California. This will make it harder for...
September 12, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

High-speed Car Chases In California, if a suspect tries to run away, the police can chase after them. But, there is a distinction between bringing a suspect back to jail and participating in a risky car...
September 12, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Doctrine The ‘fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine’ is a legal principle that serves as an evidentiary rule, which disallows the admission of specific evidence during a trial, if it was...
September 11, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Getting Immunity in Exchange for Testimony Individuals accused of a crime possess a Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and not incriminate themselves. They possess the right to refuse to divulge self-damaging details, regardless of being...
September 11, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

How to Access Police Misconduct/Personnel Files In a California trial, it is crucial to determine whether the testifying police officer has any questionable history that could compromise their credibility as a witness. If, for instance, the...
August 30, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Is Violation Of Probation A Felony Or Misdemeanor? There are three main types of probation: Misdemeanor probation for less severe offenses Felony probation for more serious crimes, and DUI probation for individuals convicted of driving under...
August 26, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Is it Still Resisting Arrest If Police Use Excessive Force? If you can provide evidence indicating that your actions were in self-defense, it is appropriate for you to resist an arrest. To substantiate this defensive stance,...
August 24, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

The Spate of Smash and Grab Robberies in Los Angeles Over the past few months, Los Angeles has experienced a series of high-profile smash and grab robberies that have shaken the local community and garnered national...
August 22, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

How to Successfully Recant a Domestic Violence Statement To recant a statement signifies retracting, withdrawing, or disowning it. There are many different motives for individuals to desire to retract a statement. Maybe the individual, being under...
August 22, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

The Dawn of a New Era Artificial intelligence is becoming progressively prevalent in various areas, including patent law within the legal industry. AI’s arrival is met with optimism and enthusiasm in certain parts of the industry,...
August 09, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

DUI Statistics in California By County Drunk driving is a dangerous and irresponsible behavior that poses a significant threat to public safety. In Los Angeles, and throughout California, the prevalence of DUI offenses has been a...
August 03, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Can Using an AI for Creating Art be Considered Intellectual Property Theft? AI-generated art has revolutionized the creative landscape, allowing both experienced artists and amateurs to create striking and original-looking images. However, the rise of AI...
August 01, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Understanding Dog-on-Dog Aggression Dog-on-dog aggression is a common issue that many dog owners face. It can occur for various reasons, such as territorial behavior, lack of socialization, and jealousy. When dogs feel that their personal space...
July 31, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Can Paralegals Provide Legal Advice? As the legal profession continues to evolve, the role of paralegals has become increasingly important. Paralegals play a crucial role in supporting lawyers and law firms, but there are certain limitations...
July 30, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What is the “Reid Technique” in Police Interrogation? In the realm of criminal investigations, the art of police interrogation plays a critical role in uncovering the truth and securing convictions. One widely recognized method of interrogation...
July 28, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

The Company You Keep.. Being an undergraduate student, having student housing is crucial and indispensable. Living in a dormitory or student apartment as a university community member offers the opportunity to forge new friendships, foster independence,...
July 26, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Senate Bill 731 California Senate Bill 731 primarily focuses on automatically expunging most felony convictions four years after the case concludes. Serious felonies, violent felonies, and felonies requiring sex offender registration are exempt from this. Felony...
July 26, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Escort or Prostitute? Escort service and prostitution are commonly confused, yet they possess distinct dissimilarities. In specific locations, escorting is allowed by law, while it is prohibited in different areas. However, it is difficult to determine...
July 25, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Fourth Amendment Rights Without a warrant, the police cannot search a home under the Fourth Amendment unless there is an applicable exception. Consent given by the homeowner or someone authorized to allow a search is a...
July 24, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Lover’s Lane You can engage in sexual activity inside your vehicle, but knowing the relevant laws is essential. Engaging in intercourse in a public setting becomes unlawful if a reasonable individual anticipates being observed. Consequently, if...
July 24, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Proving Money Laundering Charges Money laundering is a criminal transgression characterized by concealing or camouflaging unlawfully obtained funds to present them as legal. The prosecution must meticulously establish multiple crucial elements to the extent that leaves...
July 21, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

A hoarder hoarding in Koreatown, Los Angeles. What is Hoarding? Before delving into the legal aspects pertaining to hoarding, it is imperative to possess a fundamental comprehension of the actual condition. According to the Mayo Clinic,...
July 21, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

The Story of Marsy Nicholas The term Marsy’s Law was coined in honor of Marsalee Nicholas, a young woman who lost her life at age 21 due to a tragic act of murder. In 1983, Marsalee...
July 20, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Los Angeles Central Evidence Warehouse It is crucial to grasp the fate of your belongings when apprehended. Understanding the potential consequences for your property and belongings in the event of your arrest is equally essential. It...
July 18, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Snowball helped solve a murder. Animals Solving Crime Crime scenes can be perplexing puzzles that often require the keenest of investigators to unravel. While we typically rely on human intelligence and advanced forensic technologies to crack...
July 14, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Eric M. Smith was convicted of murder, and spent 3 decades in prison, before being released in 2022. Children Tried as Adults The issue of whether a child can be tried and convicted of murder is...
July 13, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What is a Felony DUI Charge in California? In California, a DUI charge can be either a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the circumstances of the case. If you have been charged with a DUI,...
July 11, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Can Criminal Defense Lawyers Defend The Guilty? As the cornerstone of a just and fair legal system, criminal defense lawyers are entrusted with the responsibility of providing legal representation to individuals accused of heinous crimes. However,...
July 11, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Felony Crimes in Los Angeles In this overview, we will explore the primary types of felony crimes prevalent in Los Angeles, providing valuable insights into their nature, impact, and potential legal consequences. In Los Angeles, numerous...
July 09, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Introduction to the 5150 Hold The 5150 hold, named after the corresponding section of the California Welfare and Institutions Code, refers to a legal provision that allows for the temporary involuntary detention and evaluation of individuals...
July 06, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Employee Theft: Inside Job Employee theft is any action that deprives your employer of time, money, goods, or services. The crime of theft can result in termination of employment by the company. You may be arrested,...
June 30, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Do Genetic Tests Like 23andMe – Ancestry Give Your DNA To Law Enforcement? Imagine you went on a website to find your family, but instead, you accidentally helped get them in trouble for a bad thing...
June 21, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Psychosexual Evaluations When navigating cases of sexual misconduct, individuals have found great benefit in undergoing a psychosexual evaluation (PSE), a potent tool often referred to as a sexual deviancy evaluation. Not only does this evaluation aid...
June 12, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What is a Federal Sentencing Memorandum? Criminal defense lawyers write federal sentencing memorandums to convince the judge to give their client the most lenient sentence possible during the hearing. Federal practitioners can achieve a significant impact...
June 09, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Roommate Disputes and Violence Domestic violence pertains to violence or threats of violence that occur within a household. Spouses, children, partners, siblings, relatives, and roommates are all-encompassed. Roommate conflicts and aggression are classified as domestic violence,...
June 07, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

What is Pretrial Diversion Program for Juveniles? The California State Assembly has passed Senate Bill 394, allowing judges to use their judgment to place offenders into a new “parental diversion program.” This program offers defendants the...
June 02, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Tech That Identifies Human DNA Floating In The Air Environmental DNA/eDNA refers to DNA derived from natural surroundings like water, sand, and air. People regularly shed small DNA fragments through sweat, saliva, blood, and skin. Tiny...
June 02, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Can I claim self-defense if I hit someone first? Who bears the responsibility for the damage resulting from a conflict that becomes violent? At times, the distinction can be clear-cut, but occasionally it gets hazy. If...
May 30, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What is a “Pitchess Motion” in Criminal Law? A California Pitchess Motion (EC 1043 and 1045) seeks access to law enforcement personnel files. Your defense attorney will usually submit a Pitchess Motion before the trial if...
May 23, 2023 by Leonard Sawyer

DUI in California Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious crime in California, and it can lead to both criminal and civil lawsuits. While criminal DUI cases focus on punishing the offender and deterring future...
May 23, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Am I Required to Work in a Prison? If you are in prison under the Federal Bureau, you must work. All prisoners in federal prison have to work unless the Health Services or Psychology Services say...
May 21, 2023 by Leonard Sawyer

Eighth Amendment The eighth amendment gives prisoners some rights to be protected from cruel and unusual punishment while locked up. These rights mean that prisoners have the right to live in a place that is fit...
May 19, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

What is “Good Cause” in Criminal Law? When someone asks a court for something or tries to avoid doing something, the court may ask them to prove that they have a good reason or cause for...
May 19, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Can A Jail Record Conversations With My Lawyer? Incarcerated individuals desire communication with their relatives, close associates, and legal counsel. According to Penal Code §851.5, after being booked, an individual under arrest is entitled to make...
May 19, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Dentistry for Domestic Abuse Survivors Crime can occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Sudden violent deaths, shootings, sexual assaults, child molestation, or domestic violence create hurdles in the recovery process for victims, survivors, and families. Crime devastates families...
May 18, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Algorithms to Set Bail When a judge decides if a person accused of a crime should get bail and how much to pay, the judge considers how likely it is that the person will not come...
May 16, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Working a Job When Under House Arrest House arrest, also known as home confinement, permits defendants and transgressors to fulfill their penalization within the territory of their residence as opposed to correctional institutions. However, in the...
May 16, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

How to Convince a Judge to Lower the Initial Bail Various variables affect the determination of bail magnitude. The legal statutes and protocols pertaining to pretrial release exhibit a certain degree of variation across different states....
May 16, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Is “Mistake of Fact” a Defense to Criminal Charges? A mistake of fact can serve as a criminal defense by showing that the defendant did not possess the necessary intent for the crime. A mistake of...
May 14, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

How Does California Define Self-Defense? Self-defense denotes the act of utilizing force as a means to safeguard oneself from potential harm or peril. By invoking self-defense as a justification for your actions, you essentially acknowledge that...
May 08, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

What is the Crime of “Jugging”? Before learning about the jugging crime, becoming familiar with all the jugging terminology is essential. The concept of “jugging” has a limited number of possible interpretations, as can be seen...
April 28, 2023 by Leonard Sawyer

SB 1087, AB 1740: Catalytic converters theft Theft of catalytic converters in California skyrocketed tenfold from 2018 to 2022. Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed on September 26th, 2022 that he has assented to two official bills addressing...
April 27, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

California Police Lineup Laws Considering how frequently police lineups are portrayed in movies about criminal investigations, many people have a basic understanding of what they’re like. A police lineup is a standard legal procedure where a...
April 27, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Where Do Firearms Used in Crimes Originate? Mass shootings frequently make headlines throughout the United States with alarming and persistent frequency. However, what often goes unnoticed in the reporting of current events are the isolated incidents...
April 27, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Decriminalizing Jaywalking in California In California, there have been several instances where implementing a jaywalking checkpoint has resulted in unforeseen consequences. In September 2020, Kurt Reinhold was fatally shot by the San Clemente Police Force following...
April 26, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Will a DUI Affect Your Immigration Status? As an immigrant, there are many things to consider when it comes to your legal status in the United States. One of the most important things to keep in...
April 25, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

How to Protect from Getting ‘Jugged’ Prospective targets of robbery or burglary are not limited to a specific profile; individuals who make transactions or utilize banking establishments can risk being observed by perpetrators who, whilst employing...
April 21, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Special Circumstances in California Murder Cases In the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, a provision prohibits the infliction of acts classified as cruel and out of the ordinary as punishment for individuals accused of...
April 21, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Romero Motions A Romero motion is when a defendant asks a judge not to count a previous conviction as part of their sentence. When used correctly, the Romero motion is helpful under specific circumstances because it...
April 21, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Lying in Wait Murder An individual may develop a comprehensive strategic plan covering all aspects of the intended course of action when thinking about assaulting another person. This can entail finding a hiding place and waiting...
April 18, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Diamond Heists on the Rise in LA If you watch movies about diamond thieves in Hollywood and see how easy it seems for them to steal millions of dollars in diamonds, you might think it’s a...
April 18, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Reducing Your DUI Charges to ‘Wet Reckless’ Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense that can result in severe penalties, such as fines, license suspension, and even jail time. However, in some cases, a...
April 01, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

LASD Deputy Gangs If you’ve lived in Los Angeles for any period of time, you’re probably aware of the problem of gang violence. But did you know that some members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s...
March 22, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

It Could Trigger Real Problems There aren’t any rules about being able to adopt. Your first challenge is to satisfy your adoption agency. The adoption agency ensures that the child being adopted goes to a safe...
March 22, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

How Many DUIs Do You Have? A single, straight DUI probably wouldn’t be enough to cause someone to lose their security clearance. However, it might raise questions about their dependability and judgment. It could also jeopardize...
March 20, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Having an Attorney is Best Being charged with DUI can be overwhelming for many drivers, so facing it with a DUI attorney is beneficial. This helps you understand and navigate situations wisely. It will also save...
March 20, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

DUI and Child Custody Child custody is one of California’s most critical issues before family courts. Custody and authority over a minor are determined primarily in the minor’s best interests. A judge or the courts will...
March 17, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Nothing is More Costly Than Your Freedom If your BAC is 0.08% or higher, you might get arrested in California for DUI. Getting caught driving under the influence (DUI) can be very costly in California. A...
March 16, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

If you are arrested for DUI while in California, you can be certain that the penalties you will face are equivalent to those of a state resident. Nonetheless, the procedure can be intricately complex. It may...
March 16, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Can I Rent a Car with DUI Conviction? A DUI conviction results in many limitations. The consequences of a DUI extend beyond just monetary fines and imprisonment. A conviction for driving under the influence while intoxicated...
March 16, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Why Some Criminal Records Cannot be Expunged? Individuals who have been found guilty of a felony or misdemeanor but were not given a state prison sentence may be eligible to avail themselves of a California state...
March 15, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

What Data Does My Driving Record Contain? If you have a license from California, you can get your California Driving Record or Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. You can buy...
March 15, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

A Notable Uptrend There was a significant increase in incidents of violent crime, consumption of illicit drugs, and mortality caused by drug overdoses in Los Angeles in 2022. Consequently, board members have stated that this disturbing...
March 09, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Restitution Restitution is an essential part of the criminal justice system. It is a way for offenders to make amends for the harm they have caused to their victims. Restitution can be ordered by the court...
March 07, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Enlarge Infographic Coping with Mass Violence As someone who has experienced secondhand trauma, I understand the emotional toll it can take on a person. Secondhand trauma occurs when an individual is exposed to the trauma of...
March 06, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Understanding the Intersection of Domestic Violence and Disability Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used by one person to gain power and control over another person in an intimate relationship. This behavior can take many...
February 24, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

What if the Jury Gets it Wrong? The American legal system is superior to that of many other countries. Originating in ancient Greece and Rome, a trial by a jury of one’s peers checks the power...
February 23, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Media Impact The media profoundly influences our culture. The news media—including newspapers, radio, television, and the internet—play an essential role in shaping public discourse. Prosecutors, defendants, and defense counsel often have difficulties in court because of...
February 22, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Were You The Victim of Wrongful Imprisonment? Yes, wrongfully convicted people do get compensation. However, victims of unjust convictions are routinely refused compensation based on technicalities or rules restricting the amount of compensation awarded, even in...
February 21, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

You Cannot Change a Juror’s World View in a Few Days Fear of crime arises as a societal phenomenon that, in extreme circumstances, impairs the quality of life, produces paranoia, anxiety, and other psychological disorders on...
February 16, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

California DUI Programs Designed to Keep You Mobile The law considers convictions for drunk driving differently from other misdemeanors. The repercussions of a DUI conviction extend beyond penalties and even prison time. There are limitations on...
February 16, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

The Devil is in the Details Criminal convictions for violent offenses (including murder, rape, sex crimes committed with a minor, abduction, and others) automatically exclude individuals from teaching positions. California Laws Furthermore, those who have violated...
February 15, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Common St. Patrick’s Day Crimes St. Patrick’s Day is renowned as one of the year’s largest drinking celebrations. In cities around the United States, the streets are crowded with parade-goers, and bars are filled with green-clad...
February 14, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

California DUI Myths Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a serious offense in California and can lead to serious penalties. Unfortunately, many people don’t know the facts about DUI and the laws in...
February 10, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

The Police Are Pulling You Over… Traffic stops are a common occurrence in California, and it’s important to know your rights as a driver and passenger during a police stop. It’s also important to know what...
February 08, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

LGBTQ+ Rights Miguel Cardona, the current U.S. Secretary of Education, has made several changes to Title IX, a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs. These changes have been praised...
February 07, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Closing Arguments of a Jury Trial Closing arguments are the last part of a trial and are essential to the outcome of a case. They provide the defense and prosecution with a chance to make their...
February 03, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Hidden Dangers of COVID Relief Fraud As the pandemic continues to ravage the United States, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was created to help small businesses and individuals stay afloat. But with this federal aid comes...
February 02, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Only in Self-Defense In California, the law allows for self-defense in certain circumstances. Grand theft auto is one of these cases, and therefore it may be permissible to use “reasonable force” against someone who is trying...
February 01, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Juvenile Can Be Sex Offenders In California, a minor (someone under the age of 18) can be registered as a Sex Offender if they are convicted of certain sex offenses. Sex offenses in California that may...
February 01, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Facial Recognition, Technology and AI Facial recognition technology is becoming increasingly popular with law enforcement, who view it as a powerful tool to help identify suspects and keep the public safe. However, there are some major...
January 30, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Immigration Law meets Criminal Law As an immigrant, it can be difficult to understand the legal system and the potential consequences of committing certain crimes. One term that is often misunderstood is “aggravated felony”. It’s important...
January 28, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Digital Forensics In this guide, we discuss the importance of authenticity in digital evidence, the admissibility of digital evidence, the challenges associated with authenticating digital evidence, and best practices to ensure the integrity of digital evidence....
January 27, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What are Miranda Rights? Miranda Rights are an essential part of the U.S. legal system. Every day, law enforcement agents read these rights to individuals who have been arrested or detained. But what exactly are Miranda...
January 26, 2023 by Janet Levy

Are Sex Offenders Allowed in School? Sex offender laws are very complex and vary significantly between states. As a result, it can be difficult to create policies that allow a sex offender to attend school while...
January 25, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What is an Occupational Driver’s License? An occupational driver’s license is a special type of restricted license that allows you to drive to and from certain necessary locations, such as work, school, or medical appointments. In...
January 24, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Bench vs. Arrest Warrants may be issued for a variety of reasons, including failure to appear in court, suspicion of criminal activity, or failure to pay a fine. Depending on the type of warrant, the legal...
January 24, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Act Fast As a parent, it can be one of the most difficult and frightening experiences to have your teenager arrested. It’s important to understand what to expect if your teenager is arrested and what you...
January 23, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Grand Theft Puppy It’s a heart-wrenching reality for pet owners everywhere – the fear of your beloved pet getting stolen. Unfortunately, this fear has become more and more prevalent in Los Angeles in recent years, with...
January 22, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

The Stigma of Domestic Violence in the Military Domestic violence is a serious issue that affects many people, including military personnel and their families. Unfortunately, it is often overlooked and goes unreported. Domestic violence can take...
January 21, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

DUI Convictions and Teaching A DUI conviction can have a huge impact on your life, and it can be especially difficult for school employees who need to pass a background check to be able to teach....
January 20, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

California Penal Code 995: Motion to Dismiss Under California law, a Penal Code 995 Motion asks the court to dismiss one or more felony counts. The motion is based on the grounds that the felony was...
January 20, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Are You Being Targeted by Someone Faking Being a Victim of Rape? False sexual assault or rape allegations are a serious matter. They can have a devastating impact on the lives of those accused, whether they...
January 19, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Valentine’s day is a day to rejoice and celebrate love. Despite this, a large number of crimes are recorded on this day. It is evident from the records that there are several arrests on this day,...
January 19, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

What is an Alternative Dispute Resolution? To avoid going to court, parties might use alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) techniques. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a catch-all term for any procedure or set of procedures used to...
January 18, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Speedy Arraignment and Rights for Arrestees A person detained for a misdemeanor or felony in California must be brought before a court “without unwarranted delay” and no later than 48 hours after arrest (excluding Sundays and...
January 17, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What Is Marital Rape or Spousal Rape? California PC 262 details the offense of rape against a spouse. To commit spousal rape, an offender must have sexual contact with their wife in violation of her consent...
January 15, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Penal Code 653.22 Patronizing prostitution is a crime that can be committed any time someone is paid to do something sexual. Patronizing a prostitute means giving her something of value, even if it’s not cash. If...
January 14, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Can Using AI for Writing Content be Considered Intellectual Property Theft? This is a valid concern because of the current training methods for generative AI. Like machine learning programs, they can find and use existing data...
January 14, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Can Emotional Abuse be Used in a Domestic Violence Case? Domestic violence is defined broadly under California law and includes emotional abuse, which is often overlooked. Any behavior or language used with the intent to dominate,...
January 14, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Isn’t this the most amazing time of year? Unfortunately, according to crime statistics, it is also an unsettling time of year for others. While Christmas may seem the least probable time for crimes, the unpleasant reality...
January 14, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What is a Lolicon Anime? In the U.S., lolicon and shotacon are no longer a topic of debate. Since the 1990s, federal and state lawmakers have sought ways to balance free speech and child porn. Federal...
January 13, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

U.S. Justice System The Constitution of the United States created a federal judicial system shared by the federal and state governments. Each state has its own federal and state court systems, which are separate. You must...
January 13, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Party Time In the criminal justice system, New Year’s Eve and Day are the two busiest days of the year. When guests at a Christmas party have had a few too many mugs of cheer, the...
January 11, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

I’m a Victim. Where can I find Assistance? Those who work in victim services provide a wide variety of free services to assist those who have been victimized to thrive again. For the County District Attorney’s...
January 10, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

What is Accomplice Testimony? The district attorney’s office may file an accomplice charge against someone who provides material support for the commission of a crime. If the accomplice is willing to testify against the main suspect,...
January 10, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

The border between hate speech and hate crimes is blurred for many Americans. Associations have been campaigning against present hate crime regulations because they stifle free expression. While hate speech is mostly uncontrolled owing to the...
January 10, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

You may face incarceration, supervised probation, and heavy penalties if falsely accused of a crime. However, even if you are found innocent, you may suffer irreparable harm to your reputation. Many consider it given that justice...
January 05, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

How Can I Obtain a Restricted Drivers License? A restricted license permits anyone to use a motor vehicle under certain conditions. After an arrest or conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI),...
January 05, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

A student’s expulsion from school serves as a stigma. The expulsion of a student not only forces them to attend a school outside of the district, but it may also affect their chances of being accepted...
January 05, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

High rates of harassment and violence are experienced by the LGBTQ community, presumably considered higher than what is recorded by the FBI or other law enforcement organizations. Efforts have been made in certain jurisdictions to enact...
January 05, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Being Aware of Jailhouse Informants Unmonitored jailhouse testimony puts innocent individuals in jail (often on death row), wastes millions of dollars, and does little to help victims of crime. Worse still, the witnesses often gain in...
January 04, 2023 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

You are Innocent A written request to overturn a criminal conviction is called a “motion to vacate a judgment.” It is filed in California because Penal Code 1473.7 PC is the law there. People who are...
January 03, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

Education Code Section 48900: Suspension and Expulsion Students in California public schools may be suspended or recommended for expulsion if they: conduct violent crimes, possess drugs or weapons, steal, harass, haze, act obscenely, threaten to inflict...
January 03, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What Does Procurement of a Child Mean? Child Procurement is the illegal act of giving your child or a child you have in your possession to another person as a prostitute or paying a child to...
January 03, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What is SB 1437 Petition? California has complicated murder laws. Several laws may render you guilty of murder even if you didn’t kill anybody. In 2019, the governor signed SB 1437 into law. SB 1437 applies...
January 02, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

Criminal Priorities of The F.B.I. The F.B.I. has three national security priorities and five criminal priorities. Together, these tell the agency what kinds of crimes to look into. The three top priorities for national security are:...
January 02, 2023 by Seppi Esfandi

What Does Assault of a Protected Class Individual Mean? The statute’s higher sentencing provisions apply to aggravated assault crimes committed against the protected class of individuals. In the event of an attack perpetrated against a protected...
January 02, 2023 by Madison Ferguson

I Have a Warrant. What’s Next? Once you learn that an arrest warrant has been issued for you in California, you should immediately speak with a competent criminal defense attorney. Decisively surrendering to law enforcement is...
December 30, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Hard Knock Life The Los Angeles County Jails are the largest in the world and one of the most troublesome in the United States, housing an average of about 22,000 inmates every day. Included is the...
December 29, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

The Glitz and Glamour Despite Los Angeles being the home to many jet-setting high-profile celebrities, there is a crisis under all that facade, and it is spilling onto the streets. The problem is not localized to...
December 22, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

What are Concurrent Sentences and Consecutive Sentences? Typically, judges have the authority to determine whether offenders guilty of different offenses should get concurrent or consecutive sentences. The choice may arise when a person is convicted of...
December 22, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Every Crime is Defensible Being arrested for a crime, any crime, is scary. The criminal justice system is complicated, and being accused of a crime is incredibly stressful. An experienced criminal defense attorney can help you...
December 22, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Were You Falsely Accused? Teachers have a greater impact on their students’ development than any other adult group, including the students’ close families. Unfortunately, many of these educators’ only transgression went the additional mile to aid...
December 21, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Task Forces Aimed at Stopping Child Pornography It is illegal to create, possess, transport, distribute, or sell any pornographic material featuring juveniles under the age of eighteen in the state of California, according to the state’s...
December 21, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

What is a Pre-trial Diversion Program? It is possible to escape conviction and a criminal record after an arrest for a misdemeanor in California by enrolling in a pre-trial diversion program, even if a not-guilty finding...
December 21, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Aiding a Crime – Accomplice Liability Aiding or encouraging another person to commit a crime is known as complicity. It’s also known as “assisting and abetment.” A person who aids and abets the guilty is called...
December 20, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

When I Can File for Restraining Order? When someone is subjected to illegal violence, a genuine threat of violence, or a knowing and purposeful pattern of behavior that significantly scares, irritates, or harasses and serves no...
December 20, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

California Detainment Laws It is against the law for the police to keep you in jail for a crime you didn’t commit. In that case, keeping you in jail is against the Fourth Amendment, even if...
December 20, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

It is illegal to use another person’s name or identity to do injury or get an inappropriate profit, as defined in PC 529, which also goes by the label of “false personation.” A misdemeanor or a...
December 20, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Why Would the IRS Audit a Tax Return? Tax returns, supporting papers, and other financial accounts and information are all subject to an IRS audit to verify the correctness of the information presented on the return,...
December 20, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

What is Doxxing? Doxxing or doxing, an abbreviation for “dropping papers,” occurs when an attacker collects personal information on an individual and then makes that information public to irritate, harass, intimidate, or stalk the victim. Criminals...
December 20, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Ways an Active Arrest Warrant May Change Your Life Having an active arrest warrant is a terrible legal predicament, mainly if you are on the run from law enforcement and hoping to escape being apprehended or...
December 20, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

What’s the Difference Between Fed and State Charges? While state legislatures and attorneys general handle most criminal law matters, federal authorities may step in to prosecute crimes committed in interstate or foreign commerce or on federal...
December 19, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

What’s a Parole Board? A parole board is a group of people who can decide whether or not an inmate should be released from prison. A convict may be eligible for parole after serving a certain...
December 19, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Most Cases Involve a Plea Deal In California and the US, a plea bargain is a norm rather than an exception. A plea bargain is a procedure between the prosecutor’s office and the defendant in which...
December 17, 2022 by Janet Levy

Crimes on All-Hallows-Eve American celebrations of Halloween date back to the late 19th century. Everyone, from adults to teenagers to young children, participates in Halloween by donning costumes, going door to door, carving pumpkins, telling scary...
December 17, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Recidivism in Sex Crimes Recidivism is when a convicted criminal returns to criminal conduct. While the etiology of criminal conduct is complicated and recidivism stems from psychological and societal circumstances, recidivism is not just recurrent offending....
December 16, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Do You Have Federal Arrest Warrant? Anyone caught up in a federal criminal case is in a scary situation. Whether you have been arrested on a federal charge or been told a warrant will be issued,...
December 15, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Tell Them They Aren’t Allowed In the last several years, technology has advanced at a breakneck pace. Most of us rely extensively on technology in our daily routines and activities. We depend heavily on our smartphones,...
December 15, 2022 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

It’s important to note that protection and restraining orders have the same purpose in California: to somehow prevent an offender from harming the protected party. Even though they seem similar, protection and restraining orders are two...
December 12, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

What is Job Scam? Have you ever encountered a job posting on the internet and immediately dismissed it as a scam? That may be the case. Even if fraudsters have always existed, they’ve become more inventive...
December 12, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

What is the Witness Protection Program Used For The United States government offers a “Witness Protection” service to witnesses in high-profile criminal cases to safeguard them from danger. U.S. Federal Witness Security Program (WITSEC) 18 U.S....
December 12, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

What is a Constitutional Amendment Says? The Fourth Amendment protects citizens against the government’s unconstitutional searches and seizures. A warrant is required to search an American citizen. This brings up the issue of whether police in...
December 11, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Legalize It In 1996, voters in California enacted the Compassionate Use Act, making it the first state to legalize medical marijuana. Both medical and adult-use (recreational) cannabis usage is now legal in the Golden State. Strict...
December 10, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

What Members of the Team Need to Participate in the Sharing of Information? Organizations, individuals, and technology using algorithms are all involved in information sharing. The information may be shared in various ways, such as a...
December 10, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Law and Order In American law, civil cases and criminal proceedings are handled separately. However, the specific facts of each case determine whether a defendant may face criminal or civil charges in California. In general, crimes...
December 08, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

It’s Up to You A person who provides government officials with information in exchange for rewards is a confidential informant. On the other hand, this setup isn’t always optimal. Your case may benefit; however, working with...
December 06, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Crimes Affecting Immigration Status Suppose you are a noncitizen who has a criminal record. In that case, you may find getting a work visa or permanent resident status in the United States challenging, regardless of where...
December 05, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

The Emoji as Evidence during a Trial? Yes, emojis may be used as evidence in a trial. Expert forensic linguist witnesses often rely upon judicial proceedings to offer interpretations of written and spoken proof, including emojis....
December 05, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Detailing Jury Instructions Jury deliberation follows the presentation of evidence and the conclusion of closing arguments in a jury trial. The judge will write up guidelines for the jury to follow while they deliberate, which will...
December 05, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Caught Up in the Moment Just over five years ago, Facebook introduced a new service called Facebook Live, which enables users to easily produce and share live broadcasts with the rest of the internet. Mark Zuckerberg,...
December 05, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

The Importance of Parental Responsibilities As a parent, it may be difficult and frustrating to see your child going through a period of defiance. Parents in California now have one more thing to worry about: will...
December 05, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Court-Ordered Criminal Protective Orders A court might issue an order known as a Criminal Protective Order to ensure the safety of a witness or victim of a crime. It follows an Emergency Protective Order and may...
December 05, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

It Comes Down to Obeying the Judge’s Orders When a court order is issued, it is taken extremely seriously. If it is broken, it may have terrible implications. In most cases, the offender will be ordered...
December 04, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

California Laws Regarding High-Speed Chases Is the Defendant in a Police Chase Liable in the Event of an Accident? Except for the fact that they are all inherently hazardous, police chases are unpredictable events. Both the...
October 03, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Realignment – California The California criminal justice system is undergoing a period of major upheaval referred to as realignment. Supervising certain classes of low-level felons and parolees from state prisons is being moved from state parole...
October 03, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Nationwide Criminal Databases After a DUI conviction, you will likely have your driving privileges restricted if not taken away entirely. A question our clients commonly ask us is, ‘what if I move or plan on visiting...
October 02, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

How to Survive if You’ve Been Taken Hostage Although you’ve probably never pictured yourself — or wanted to picture yourself — the victim of a kidnapping or in a hostage situation, the truth is, it can...
October 02, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Black Friday Deals and Steals Black Friday starts off Christmas shopping for many. Some retailers open on Thanksgiving evening, providing buyers access to big bargains. Intense competition for limited quantities of popular goods may arise in...
October 01, 2022 by Chistian Bredefeld

Crack Pipes, Meth Pipes, Needles California HSC 11364 makes it a crime to have drug paraphernalia in your possession. It is defined as anything that may be used to produce, administer, or conceal a controlled drug...
October 01, 2022 by Janet Levy

Strict Liability Law in California “Strict liability” is a legal doctrine that exists when a defendant is held liable for an action that results in injury, regardless of whether or not they had intent to cause...
September 30, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Does The Prosecutor Have a Weak Case? A person well-versed in the law can tell at a glance whether or not a criminal case has merit. When brought to trial, criminal cases have a reputation for...
September 30, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Intellectual Property Theft Theft of intellectual property refers to the illegal acquisition of another party’s formulas, designs, works of art, or other forms of intellectual labor. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues rules...
September 30, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Urinating in Public As stated in Section 647 of the California Penal Code, urinating in public in California violates disorderly conduct. It might be a public nuisance violation under sections 370 and 372 of the California...
September 29, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Most Accusations are Accurate The percentage of fraudulent or fake allegations of sexual abuse of children is put between 4 and 8 percent. This means that 92% and 96% of reports are accurate. Survivors often struggle...
September 27, 2022 by M. Bernard

Sextortion – The Internet Sex Crime “I won’t get caught, I’m a hacker I covered my tracks”… “If u don’t play I promise I’ll f*ck your life over.” ~ Famous last words by Richard Finkbiner When...
September 27, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Beware of Skimmers, Use Credit not Debit Anyone making purchases or withdrawing cash from an ATM, buying petrol, or eating out might be a victim of card skimming. Installing a skimmer on your card reader will...
September 26, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Selling Your Prescription Medication for Money? Narcotics are still a big problem in the United States. In the same way, in most states, it is a very serious crime to deal with or sell prescription medications....
September 26, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Cease and Desist Notices A “cease and desist” notice is a written request for someone to stop doing something illegal or thought to be illegal right away. It could be a court order, an injunction from...
September 20, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

California Committment Orders A commitment order is a court-issued directive to confine a specific individual in a correctional institution, hospital or other institution for the foreseeable future. Specifically, a court directs legal enforcement officials to transport...
September 19, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

A DUI on a Cart, Seriously? Absolutely, but it’s a rare occurrence. In California, operating an automobile while intoxicated is unlawful. The permissible blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level is 0.08 percent. Underage motorists are prohibited from...
September 17, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Writ Of Habeas Corpus Habeas corpus has English common law foundations. The mechanism allows prisoners or others to protest their lawful imprisonment. A writ of habeas corpus (which means “produce the body”) is a court order...
September 13, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Stolen Property The answer to this question may not be immediately apparent. Knowing the definition of theft in the California Penal Code is the first step in answering the question. Theft is often classified as either...
September 13, 2022 by Ray Chao

Which Are the Types of Embezzlement? Embezzlement is a theft offense defined as the misappropriation of funds by an organization or employer that were placed in their trust by another party. Many workers, contractors, or even...
September 13, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Failing to Appear If a witness is issued a subpoena but does not show up to testify, police may issue an arrest. If a witness shows up in court and refuses to testify, they have broken...
September 12, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Inmates Over Fifty The California Parole System has been updated to include the Elderly Parole Program. Good conduct during incarceration may result in a prisoner’s release from jail before the conclusion of their (maximum) sentence, a...
September 09, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Obstruction Charges Interfering with law enforcement while doing their jobs is the essence of obstruction of justice. Willfully “resisting, delaying, or obstructing a law enforcement officer or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) while they are engaged in...
September 07, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

First Amendment Right Due to the First Amendment’s protection of free speech, the press, and the public’s right to know, the courts have upheld the practice of filming police officers. Most courts that have examined this...
September 06, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

One Crime, One Case, One Outcome American Justice System Double jeopardy is a significant part of the United States Constitution. It comes from the second clause of the Fifth Amendment and keeps an accused individual from...
September 04, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Consulting an Attorney Facing criminal charges may be a terrifying experience. Most people have little to no experience with the police and less with the pitfalls of the criminal justice system. Finding, meeting, and learning to...
September 02, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Plea Withdrawal By admitting guilt in court and waiving trial, a defendant effectively admits the charges against them are true. You waive any chance of successfully defending yourself by raising reasonable doubt about the accusations in...
August 31, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Can I Run a Fight Club? The old common-law idea that fighting between two adults willing to engage in the activity is essentially ‘legalized fighting’ is a misnomer. Given its origins in dueling, it’s hardly surprising...
August 30, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

GPS, Cellular or WIFi Triangulation Looking for Evidence If the police try to access your phone, it’s likely because they’re gathering evidence against you. Passcode-cracking and vulnerability-exploiting businesses are becoming more adept at weakening mobile devices....
August 29, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

A Liberal Frontier State California has a lengthy controlled but often unregulated gaming history as a frontier state. Due to its population growth over the 20th century, California is one of the most prominent ‘liberal’ states...
August 28, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Waiting on the K-9 Unit A trained police dog is used in a canine smell test, also known as a police dog sniff test, to hunt for evidence of criminal activity. Police dogs are often used...
August 26, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

American Criminal Justice ‘Presumption of Innocence’ says that a criminal defendant accused of a crime is thought to be innocent until they are proven guilty. So, if the person is to be found guilty, the prosecutor...
August 26, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Domestic Violence Can Haunt You Regardless of the parent’s marital status, any history of domestic violence in California will likely affect custody decisions. All courts managing child custody must determine whether parents are fit and capable...
August 19, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

How to Defend Fraud Charges: Hire an Attorney Credit card fraud is unlawfully using a credit card, debit card, or other payment mechanisms. The court considers it theft when someone is accused of applying for a...
August 18, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Depends on The Type of Crime People often wonder whether they have a legal duty to report a crime. Everyone has different responses after witnessing a crime. While some will jump into action and try to...
August 18, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

California Leads The Nation The Constitution’s Second Amendment says that people in the State of California can own and carry guns. But the state has the right to regulate and limit who can possess certain firearms...
August 18, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Not So Coolifornia If you’ve been charged with a drug offense in California, immigration consequences like deportation depend on several factors, such as the type of crime you committed and your criminal history. If you’re a...
August 15, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Civil or Criminal Contempt Disobedience to a court order is considered contempt of court. In California, like in most states, civil contempt and criminal contempt are recognized as forms of contempt of court. There are certain...
August 11, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Attention International Students and Dreamers Visa-holders from other countries are responsible for knowing what is permissible and what violates local, state, and federal laws when they enter the United States. Students in the nation on a...
August 11, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Possession of Controlled Substance For many types of controlled substance laws in California, it’s a crime to merely have the drug in your possession without a doctor’s prescription, as this can create the assumption that since...
August 10, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Your Lawyer Will Contact Them if Needed Defendants shouldn’t speak to witnesses during criminal court proceedings. The judge typically directs the defendant not to contact any witnesses. Because of this, any words a defendant makes to...
August 10, 2022 by Janet Levy

Failure to Appear in California If you miss your court date, you’ll be charged with failure to appear (FTA). The judge may issue a bench or criminal arrest warrant depending on why you were to appear...
August 06, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

DUI Convictions A DUI conviction stays on your record for up to ten years and is visible by the DMV and law enforcement throughout that period. In California, DUI convictions persist for ten years, and accumulate...
August 05, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Digital Forensics: The Cellebrite UFED Touch 2 Wiretapping by Law Enforcement Law enforcement officers can begin investigating you without your knowledge or being informed. Phones contain much sensitive information that should not be privy to everyone....
August 05, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Scene Documentation Scene documentation records the crime scene’s state. The criminal scene’s condition must be noted after the preliminary scene inspection. This is the investigator’s most crucial duty. Since crime scenes alter as soon as they’re...
August 04, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Trust No One Disclosing or communicating information about a case goes by many different names. There are restrictions on what kind of information may be shared publicly. The court’s regulations may permit you to disclose information...
August 03, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Concealed Weapons Permit (CCW) To legally carry a weapon in California, one must apply for a concealed weapons permit (CCW), which allows ordinary citizens to carry firearms in California. Without a CCW, having a loaded or...
July 28, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Good Credit It is challenging for prisoners to participate in all incarcerated rehabilitative programs. In some states, prisoners can get up to 54 days off their sentence for good behavior. The federal law describes good behavior...
July 28, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Governor’s Pardon: Rare but Invaluable Tool A pardon is an opportunity given to a convicted felon to show they have undergone full rehabilitation for the crime they were convicted of. If a convicted criminal is awarded...
July 28, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Research Your Lawyer’s Education Question: Can anyone practice law without attending law school? Answer: Surprisingly the answer is YES, in some states. In 2021, four states (California, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington) approved laws for those with...
July 28, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

California Infractions and Misdemeanors If you got a traffic ticket in California, don’t worry. Getting a moving violation is never easy, but you may proceed through the California traffic ticket procedure swiftly and easily – and...
July 28, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

You Have Rights Against It Excessive bail refers to the amount of cash or bond a defendant is ordered to pay by a court. It is necessary to ensure they will make court appearances. The Eighth...
July 28, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

1. Good: Consider Pleading the Fifth Individuals are shielded from self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment, by choosing to remain silent. To commit self-incrimination, you must either purposefully or inadvertently disclose information that might lead to criminal...
July 26, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

How does a DUI affect Car Insurance? Financial and legal difficulties can be significant long after a DUI conviction for driving under the influence. The next steps in your legal process will be complicated; thus, to...
July 25, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Twenty Percent of Teens For a responsible parent, receiving that phone call that your child has been arrested in school for drugs can be devastating. Instead of questioning your ability as a good parent, you should...
July 25, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Teens and Stalking There are many forms of stalking. In fact, it’s has reached a chronic public health crisis in this country. Stalking among teenagers most often occurs when a relationship ends, and the teenage stalker...
July 25, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Conspiracy or RICO? Feds stoutly prosecute racketeering and conspiracy, so you have to understand the stakes if accused. Conspiracy is a collective criminal activity that occurs when two or more people plan to commit a crime...
July 25, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Changing Your Official Statements Recanting a statement means you want to withdraw, or take back, a previous statement that you made to the police. The consequences of deciding to recant your statement will vary depending on...
July 21, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Help Prevent DUI Charges and Accidents As a consequence of serving alcohol at their party, hosts may be held legally liable for the acts of their visibly intoxicated guests. In situations involving accidents caused by intoxicated...
July 21, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Who Owns Trash? Interestingly, you may never pay much attention to your trash, especially if it is left outside your house, but the police can easily target it for a search. Most people consider law enforcement...
July 13, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Marijuana Use in America In 1970, Congress declared marijuana illegal under the Controlled Substances Act. The Act categorizes marijuana as a Schedule One drug, which means that it has “a high potential for abuse and little...
July 12, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Evidence in Criminal Trials When used in the context of an inquiry, the term “evidence” refers to a wide variety of sources of information that might be used to establish or deny issues in dispute before...
July 12, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Involuntary Intoxication Defense Criminal law provides a variety of sanctions for offenses that vary depending on the circumstances. Common criminal law defenses, such as insanity, infancy, and intoxication, are predicated on the defendant’s inability to be...
July 12, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Flawless Victory If criminal charges are dropped, there will be no trial, and no repercussions will be imposed for the alleged offense. If you are convicted and charged with a crime, the arresting officer will provide...
July 12, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

California Prosecutors Take DV Cases Seriously A domestic violence charge is a serious criminal offense. It includes issuing abuse or threats to anyone close to the defendant. These include spouses, former or current cohabitants, children, and...
July 11, 2022 by Janet Levy

What is Human Trafficking? Human trafficking is a despicable crime that is often misunderstood because most people don’t know how to identify the signs and common risk factors. The United Nations defines human trafficking as, “recruitment,...
July 11, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

White Collar Crimes involving Money Both money laundering and embezzlement involve hiding money which is why in some cases they are often confused with each other. However, the only thing that these two crimes have in...
July 11, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

The Freedom to Peacefully Assemble The freedom to peacefully assemble and protest is guaranteed under the First Amendment. In some situations, government officials do have the power to limit free speech or free assembly. Learn your...
July 08, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Character Witnesses vs. Eye witnesses In a criminal case, the defense and the prosecutor might call witnesses to testify on the stand. There are different types of witnesses, including eyewitnesses and character witnesses. An eye witness...
July 08, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

A Record That Follows You A juvenile record contains all documents, court orders, and reports in a juvenile court file. It also includes other documents related to the juvenile record held by the Department of Justice,...
July 07, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

The Clock Starts Now Question: “When does the Statute clock start?” Answer: “Once the police discover a crime.” This is usually when the investigation starts as they try to figure out what happened and who could...
July 01, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Procedural Defense Factual Defense Affirmative Defense Common Defenses What Is a ‘Procedural Defense’ In Criminal Law? When you are facing accusations, one of the essential things you can do is familiarize yourself with the numerous legal...
June 30, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Rapid DNA Testing For years forensic scientists have been using DNA testing and research to help law enforcement solve and identify potential suspects of certain crimes. Success stories like the catching of the Golden State Killer,...
June 29, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Criminal Court Dismissals A criminal case may be dismissed before, throughout, or even after the trial. It could be the outcome of a proposal to dismiss filed by the prosecutor or the defendant, or it could...
June 29, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

How to Defend Against Police Surveillance at Protests The right to join fellow citizens in protest is one of the foundations of democracy and a cornerstone of the First Amendment. Unfortunately, law enforcement officials can use...
June 29, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Rape or Statutory Rape? The legal definition of rape is the sexual offense of having non-consensual sexual intercourse with someone by issuing threats, fraud, or using force. In most cases, the rapist prevents the victim from...
June 28, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Defining ‘Negligent Homicide’ When a person loses their life, it’s not unusual for a seemingly harmless character to be prosecuted with manslaughter, even if the death was an accident. Furthermore, it’s too common for prosecutors to...
June 27, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

The Legal Doctrine of Strict Liability Under California law, strict liability crimes are those that do not require the prosecutor to provide fault. Rather, all the prosecutor has to prove is that the defendant did something...
June 27, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

DUI for Taking Prescription Medication Most people assume they cannot get a DUI for taking prescription medication, but this could not be further from the truth. The California Vehicle Code 23152(f) makes it unlawful for any...
June 26, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Squatters’ Rights in California California is the highest populated state, and because of this, many people tend to reside in properties that are not theirs. Squatting is overwhelming for landlords and frustrating, especially for new property...
June 26, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Sexual Harrassment Laws There are laws against sexual harassment in the workplace. However, individuals may still engage in sexual harassment, making others in the workplace feel uncomfortable, threatened, or unsafe. Sometimes, people may not realize they’re...
June 24, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Honest Mistake or Federal Crime? A US passport is one of the most important traveling/identity documents one can own. However, this also means that they are one of the most secure passports in the world. The...
June 24, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

The Art of Parenting Parents consider the relationship with their children to be of the utmost importance. If a court decides to take an involuntary termination of a parent’s parental rights, it is often a decision...
June 24, 2022 by M. Bernard

A Profound Correlation Many people believe that Education and Crime have an inverse causal relationship, that the more education one has received, the less likely one will be to engage in criminal activity. According to the...
June 23, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Riding Your Bike Impaired A lot of people in California today are choosing to opt for a bike as an alternative to driving. After all, it helps them avoid the long hours of California traffic jams...
June 23, 2022 by Robert Cabiness

Criminal or Civil? Homicide is the killing of a person by another. Not all homicides are unlawful. Lawfulness depends on one’s conduct that caused the death of another. “Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human...
June 22, 2022 by M. Bernard

Hero or Zero? We live in a world full of crime, and knowing how to react when we witness a crime is essential. Simply because being informed on how to react in situations where crime is...
June 22, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Carrying a Knife in California? California’s knife laws can be difficult to interpret because it is the most populous state in the country and has a diverse range of political viewpoints. Knowing the laws can help...
June 22, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Military Sex Crimes Over the years, the military has struggled to curb the spread of sexual assault and harassment within its rank. This issue became apparent after specialist Vanessa Gillen was sexually assaulted and later killed....
June 21, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Prosecutors Take Domestic Violence Seriously Domestic violence is a severe criminal offense that can seriously impact your life. The case entails threatening or harming a partner, whether you are in an intimate relationship or cohabiting together....
June 21, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

It Depends on Your State Americans consider being heard through voting for their choice of representatives as one of the most fundamental rights. These rights are all advocated as stipulated in the United States constitution. As...
June 21, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Military Criminal Record A criminal record can affect many areas of a young person’s future, depending on the crime they are charged with, such as employment, education, and housing. Another area that could be affected is...
June 21, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Entrapment Entrapment is a situation where the police or government agents try to lure an accused into acting the crime they are accused or suspected of, and it is legally allowed as long as it is...
June 20, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Elements of Conspiracy A conspiracy occurs when two or more people plot either to carry out a crime or defraud the United States or a government agency, and one of the members of the conspiracy performs...
June 20, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Try Not to Do This The 4th of July — Independence Day — often means barbecues, fun in the sun, and for many, some adult beverages, too. Although it’s supposed to be a day of celebration,...
June 19, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Abuse or Assault? In most sex crimes cases, you have probably heard the terms sexual abuse or sexual assault used. These terms are often used interchangeably when describing sex crimes. However, these two are considered different...
June 19, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Relax, There’s Hope If you have ever been convicted of a drug charge in California, you have probably wondered to yourself what your future employment opportunities are. It is already hard enough for people with perfect...
June 18, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

‘Parental Kidnapping’ in California Criminal restraint by a parent in California is often described as ‘parental kidnapping’. What most parents do not know is that they can be arrested for kidnapping their own children. In fact,...
June 17, 2022 by Robert Cabiness

Sometimes, Freedom isn’t Free After having been sentenced to probation, the gavel bangs, and you’re free to leave the courtroom. But, to what extent are you free to travel the world? The degree to which criminal...
June 17, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Procedural Defense Factual Defense Affirmative Defense Common Defenses What Is a ‘Factual Defense’ In Criminal Law? When a criminal defense attorney prepares to defend a client in court, they must decide which defense approach will best...
June 17, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Domestic Violence Laws in California Domestic violence laws in California make it a crime to cause harm or threaten to harm a current or former spouse, co-parent, co-habitant, or another form of an intimate partner. Sometimes,...
June 16, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Justice System for Juveniles The first Juvenile Court was established in 1899 when Illinois passed the Juvenile Court Act. This court system was created to divert youth offenders from the crippling effects of adult criminal penalties,...
June 16, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Drugging Someone for Sexual Intercourse One of the key factors that come up in most sexual offense cases is whether consent was given or not. For any sexual activity committed both parties must be able to...
June 16, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Harassing or Annoying Harassment is regarded as any behavior, be it physical, written, verbal, or other, that is unwanted and could offend or humiliate another person. With the mainstream popularity of smartphones and other electronic devices,...
June 13, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Conspiring to Overthrow The Government Sedition has been defined as a conspiracy to engage in an unlawful act, such as treason or insurrection. In other words, if two or more people have plans to take over...
June 13, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Investigating Arson There are four ways a fire can start in a building: accident action of nature negligence intentional Intentionally and maliciously setting fire to a building is regarded as arson. Arson occurs when a person...
June 10, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Fair Employment is Key People with criminal records often worry about the effect a criminal record could have on their opportunities in the job industry. Luckily the state of California has strong laws that help ensure...
June 10, 2022 by Janet Levy

Impact of Brady Rule The Brady Rule, named after Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), pronounced that prosecutors shall disclose materially exculpatory evidence in the government’s possession to the defense. The “Brady material” refers to any evidence the prosecutor...
June 09, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Can I Be Arrested For Self Defense? California law allows you to claim self-defense when charged with assault on another. This means that an individual is permitted to use a rational amount of force under the...
June 08, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Loan Fraud Loan fraud is a serious crime that usually results in severe penalties. Unfortunately, a variety of circumstances may lead to a charge of loan fraud, even in situations where there was no intent to...
June 08, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Procedural Defense Factual Defense Affirmative Defense Common Defenses What Is An ‘Affirmative Defense’ In Criminal Law? It is said in criminal law, that all criminal cases are defensible and all crimes or criminal charges are made...
June 07, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Undercover Police in California If you ask most individuals this question, chances are, they would probably say yes. A surprisingly large number of people all over the country believe that police are supposed to identify themselves...
June 06, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Do I Have to Show ID if Asked By Police in California? Simple answer, no! The state of California has no “stop and identify” or “paper please” laws. This means that legally a police officer cannot...
June 06, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Filing Fraudulent Tax Reports Each year a percentage of the US population is required to file their taxes correctly. However, it is not out of the ordinary for an individual to falsify the information on their...
June 05, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

What Are My Rights When Subpoenaed Before a Grand Jury? Grand jury subpoenas are just one of the tools the prosecution can use to carry out grand jury investigations. When you receive a federal grand jury...
June 04, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

California Date Rape Laws Being charged with a rape offense can be a very terrifying situation. Getting charged with rape crime comes with a lot of damage to different sectors of life, particularly to your reputation....
June 02, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Hearing Domestic Violence at a Neighbor’s Apartment You’re watching TV relaxing after a long day at work when suddenly you hear shouting and doors slamming. The neighbors are fighting again! What should you do? Do you...
June 01, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

The Different Types of Liars Every human being, at one point or another, has told a lie. Whether it is to protect someone’s feelings or avoid an uncomfortable situation, everyone tells a lie every now and...
June 01, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Armed vs. Unarmed Both robbery and armed robbery are considered very serious offenses in California. However, one of these will usually entail harsher penalties compared to the other. Both offenses involve illegally taking another person’s property...
May 30, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

2022, The New Normal There was a time when one mass shooting would shock the conscience of much of America. However, those times are long gone. America has grown accustomed to hearing news reports of mass...
May 28, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

The Stigma of Child Abuse Being accused of a violent or sexual offense can be very damaging for various sectors of your life, particularly if the sexual abuse crime you are implicated for involves a child....
May 28, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

The Stigma of a Sex Crime If you have ever been charged with a sex crime, you probably know how severe a sex crime conviction can be. Prosecutors and law enforcement alike put a lot of...
May 25, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Depp vs. Heard The Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard defamation trial has captivated audiences around the globe, with live streams of the court proceedings reaching hundreds of millions of people. No matter if you’re on Johnny’s side or...
May 23, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Does My Criminal Record Appear on Background Checks? The simple answer is yes. Depending on the intensity and how far back the background search goes, your criminal record will most likely appear on it. Let’s dive...
May 23, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

3 Types of Warrants in California If you suspect that you may have an outstanding warrant in California, we highly advise that you confirm whether your suspicions are true or not by proactively handling this issue...
May 22, 2022 by Ray Chao

Character Evidence – CA Evidence Code 1101 EC The California Evidence Code sets out the rules of evidence for state courts. The rules of evidence, and evidentiary matters in general, are complicated, and you need an...
May 18, 2022 by M. Bernard

Use Scroll Wheel to Zoom into Neghborhoods, Select Colored Areas [ OPEN FULL MAP ] Organized Crime in the City of Angels I. NUMBERS The FBI reports that some 33,000 violent street gangs, motorcycle gangs, and...
May 18, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Have You Ever Heard of ‘Nonconsensual Insemination’? Until recently the idea of inseminating a woman against their will with a different sperm than they expected was relatively unheard of. However, the 2022 Netflix documentary ‘Our Father’...
May 17, 2022 by M. Bernard

California and USA’s Less Than One Percent The American Psychological Association describes Gender Identity as “A person’s deeply‐felt, inherent sense of being a boy, a man, or male; a girl, a woman, or female; or an...
May 17, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Recognizing the Signs Before It’s Too Late Domestic violence is a problem that can have far-reaching effects on the lives of those involved. It’s important to recognize that domestic violence can include many behaviors besides striking...
May 16, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Winning a Probation Violation Hearing The great thing about probation is that it allows you to serve your sentence without having to go into custody. However, felony probation sentences have strict conditions such as meeting up...
May 16, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Under the Sixth Amendment, every criminal defendant has the right to an attorney and a fair trial. This means that the defendant has the right to hire a private defense attorney of...
May 16, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Tahl Waiver Despite what criminal charges an individual is facing, they have certain rights offered to them by the US constitution that need to be protected. However, in certain situations, a defendant may decide to waiver...
May 16, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

California Felony Probation Not all individuals facing criminal charges are going to end up in jail. In some cases, when an accused is convicted, they may be sentenced with probation, which means they can serve all...
May 15, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Harvey Waiver In some California cases, you may find that the accused is charged with more than one criminal offense. To avoid these charges, a defendant may choose to enter a plea bargain to plead guilty...
May 15, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Court Ordered Domestic Violence Classes Domestic violence is a very serious offense in California. If convicted for a domestic violence offense in California, you are at risk of facing much more than jail time, probation, and...
May 12, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

First DUI Second DUI Third DUI Fourth DUI What to Expect for Your First California DUI Charge: First DUI Sentence In California, when you are arrested for a first DUI offense, you will have to defend...
May 11, 2022 by Ray Chao

After an Arrest, Will I Be Allowed to Remain Free? Getting arrested and accused of a crime is stressful, and scary. Suddenly, your freedom may be at risk, and depending on various factors including the seriousness...
May 11, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

[ Data Source ] Is there a Correlation between Weather and Crime? Did you know that hot weather and crime tend to go hand in hand? After a vast number of studies on this topic, this...
May 11, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

The Reasons Child Trafficking Happens Child trafficking is the transfer and transportation of kidnapped children for slavery, sexual exploitation, adoption, or forced labor. It can be related to the current ongoing slavery. Children are obtained as...
May 10, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

California Abortion Laws In the wake of a recent leaked Supreme Court memo that showed SCOTUS’ vote to overturn abortion laws, California has announced plans to become a sanctuary for women in states that have banned abortion — even proposing...
May 10, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Appealing Criminal Conviction in California A criminal conviction carries a lot of consequences for you. Finding housing, a job, and even friends can be difficult if you have a criminal record. If you or your attorney...
May 10, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

When a Crime is an Environmental Crime? Environmental crime is the violation of the environment through illegal activities involving wildlife, natural resources, and biodiversity. These activities are life-threatening to everyday life and to the generations to...
May 10, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

When Is Harassment Considered a Crime? Consistency in harassment often leads to criminal offenses on the victims. These offenses are the worst in nature and may leave a permanent mark on the lives of the victim....
May 09, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

A Safe-Haven for ‘Pro-Choice’ California abortion clinics are building new facilities that are closer to transit hubs in preparation to become a so-called “safe haven” for people coming to California for abortion services from states where...
May 09, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Restraining Orders in California Verbal or physical abuse is considered against the law in California since it is a criminal offense. These criminal offenses could result from abuse or threats between two relatives, married couples, domestic...
May 06, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Common Crime on College Campuses Everyone needs to be assured of safety wherever they may be included on the college campus. However, attaining 100% safety is quite a challenge, especially in college, where we constantly see...
May 05, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Ed Gein was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental hospital for life. Legal Insanity as a Defense California’s Insanity defense refers to the California law which states that a legally...
May 05, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

False Confession in California A false confession is a crime in California. It is the admission of committing a crime that, in actual sense, you did not commit. Many of these false confessions lead to wrongful...
May 05, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

It’s Never Too Late.. “Is it too late now to say sorry?” If you’ve been accused of or charged with a crime, you may be wondering if displaying remorse for your actions will help you get...
May 04, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

What are Marsden Motions? Marsden motions are legal documents prepared by the defendant and filed under the court. The defendant tries to seek the removal of the court-appointed attorney or people’s public defender. The Marsden motion...
May 04, 2022 by Ray Chao

Early Termination of Probation – PC 1203.3 Overview Upon conviction, a judge may order probation in lieu of incarceration depending on the seriousness of the crime, and potential risk to public safety. Under California law, there...
May 04, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Types of Check Frauds Fraud has increased around the globe contributing to the revenue losses in many organizations. Among the most vulnerable areas for loss in the business is the misappropriation of funds and billing schemes....
May 04, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

An Indictment Highlights The Charges An indictment is an official document containing the charges that a defendant faces. It is a menu highlighting the charges that one is facing and the constitutional rights present for them....
May 03, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

He Who Represents Himself has a Fool for a Client A Faretta motion is a legal file prepared by the criminal defendant in association with the court to allow them to represent themselves during the criminal...
May 03, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Errors in Justice The justice system is not always in favor of the defendant. The risks of poor presentation from the lawyer increase, especially with the public defenders. They lack resources, experience, skills, and they are...
May 02, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

Appealing a California Criminal Conviction Sometimes we are faced with a criminal conviction that we know nothing about. Some of the criminal convictions we face are due to reasons that could have been previously avoided. This...
May 02, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Attorney—Client Privilege Protects You Guilt is often determined by a jury or a judge in court. Hence as a suspect, it is wise to choose the best defense attorney that will help establish your case. Criminal...
April 30, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

The Fourth Amendment The fourth amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects citizens from unlawful search and seizure. This means that, in many cases, police or other government officials cannot search your property at their will. Generally,...
April 29, 2022 by Ray Chao

What are Rape Shield Laws? California is one of 48 states that have enacted a Rape Shield Law. Primarily designed to protect the rights of complaining witnesses in sexual assault cases, any person accused of a...
April 28, 2022 by Chistian Bredefeld

What is Federal Corporate Fraud? Federal corporate fraud, or what is commonly referred to as “white-collar crimes,” are serious, and you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you with your defense, whether you...
April 18, 2022 by Ray Chao

What is a Grand Jury? Most people have heard of a “grand jury,” but may not fully understand the important role that a grand jury plays in the criminal justice system. The primary purpose of a...
April 18, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

California’s ‘Minorty Report’ Law The ‘red flag law‘ in California is a form of gun control that allows specific individuals to request that a gun be confiscated from a certain person. It is a unique law...
April 18, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Penal Code 26500 PC Under California law, certain immediate family members can transfer gun ownership to one another without any paperwork, background checks, or official gun dealers involved. This includes transfers between: Parent and adult child...
April 15, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

What Are the Types of False Confessions? Anyone who has been interrogated by the police understands how stressful it can be. Television detectives will lie and coerce suspects to get the desired response. Real-life interrogations aren’t...
April 15, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

The Link Between Early Aggression and Criminal Behavior Several studies have shown that there may be a link between early life aggression and later life crime. As a matter of fact, in some cases, early life...
April 15, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Use Scroll Wheel to Zoom into Neghborhoods, Select Colored Areas [ OPEN FULL MAP ] Why Do Young People Join Gangs in LA? From ‘Gangter’s Paradise’ to ‘American Gangster,’ the ‘Crip Walk,’ and rap lyric after...
April 15, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

‘Social Host laws’ in California Just because your child may not be of legal drinking age does not mean they are not drinking alcohol. It also does not mean they cannot get pulled over for driving...
April 14, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Racial Profiling Racial profiling occurs when a person’s race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion is used as a reason to suspect someone of a crime. This practice is discriminatory and, when practiced by law enforcement, leads...
April 05, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

What Is a SCRAM Device in California DUI Sentencing? If you are convicted of a DUI offense in California, there are a variety of penalties a judge can sentence you with depending on the circumstances of...
April 05, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

What Crimes are Associated with Animal Abuse in California? In California, Penal Code 597 PC makes animal abuse illegal, defined as the malicious killing, harming, maiming, or torture of a living animal. 597 PC is a...
April 04, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Denial of Citizenship People charged with certain crimes may be rendered ineligible for a U.S. visa or excluded from citizenship. Understanding the requirements for a visa can be complicated. If you’ve found yourself being charged with...
April 03, 2022 by M. Bernard

The Crime of ‘Stalking’ in Los Angeles California I’ll be a hard-lovin’, pushin’ kind of individual Knockin’ night and day at your door You’ll have to turn me away like an indestructible force Baby, I’m gonna...
April 01, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Have an Upcoming Federal Court Date? Being arrested is an unsettling and nerve-racking time for anyone. If you’ve never been arrested for a federal crime before, you likely have questions about what to expect from your...
March 28, 2022 by M. Bernard

LA’s Biggest Problem In his capacity as co-moderator of the Tuesday, March 22nd Los Angeles Mayoral Candidates’ debate at USC’s Bovard Auditorium, Fox News anchor Elex Michaelson began with: “Polls show that homelessness is the number...
March 28, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Domestic Violence Comes in Many Forms Although you might think that signs of domestic violence would be blatant, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, small behaviors, patterns, and aggressions that you may shrug off are actually...
March 25, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Passports and Criminal Records Some legal problems can make obtaining a passport complicated. While a criminal history alone usually won’t impact your ability to get a passport issued or reissued, there are some special legal circumstances...
March 09, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

School Safety Anti-bullying campaigns have become increasingly visible over the last several years, and cases of school bullying turned fatal have dominated the news. The perception of school bullies has shifted, as well. No more are...
March 04, 2022 by M. Bernard

Automatism As you’re probably aware, the U.S. Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. In Automatism: The Unconsciousness Defense to a Criminal Action, Patricia E. Gould asserts that the “American judicial system must provide for...
March 02, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

So you’ve been charged with a hit and run in California, now what? Step one is to remain calm, not offer up any information about the incident and what led up to it, or answer any...
February 17, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

California Penal Code 459.5 California Penal Code 459.5 defines shoplifting as the act of entering a place of business with the intent of stealing $950 or more in merchandise. Most often, shoplifting is considered a misdemeanor....
February 17, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

California DUI Law Although most first-time DUI offenders receive misdemeanors, it is possible to be charged with a felony for a DUI conviction. First, it’s important to understand the laws surrounding driving under the influence in...
February 14, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Preparation is the Key Taking the stand can be scary — no matter who you are. But, it’s one of the most important parts of your case, and getting the opportunity to tell your side of...
February 11, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Step One: Get Out of Jail Not all people convicted of crimes in California are immediately taken away to jail. Sometimes, the judge delays sentencing to give the person convicted of the crime some time to...
February 10, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Your Own Personal Confidant Attorney—client confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of the American justice system, protecting the privacy of conversations between a client and their attorney. It extends to all areas of the law, from...
February 08, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Petty Theft and Shoplifting – Overview Most people usually consider petty, and shoplifting to be the same crime, especially considering how similar they are. However, under California criminal law, these two are regarded as, separate offenses....
February 02, 2022 by Seppi Esfandi

So You’ve been Arrested. Who do You Call? Your mom Your spouse Your best friend Your cousin’s wife’s ex-boyfriend, who’s an attorney If you guessed 4, you’re right! Now, that may seem like an unlikely choice,...
February 01, 2022 by M. Bernard

Internet Crimes Sexting is not an illegal activity. It is also an extremely popular activity. If you are sexting with an adult partner, exchanging arousing photos and engaging in titillating typing, it is not a crime....
January 27, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Children Tried as Adults You’ve likely heard the term “tried as an adult” while flipping through your local newspaper or news channel. But, what does that mean, and when can juveniles be tried in adult court?...
January 26, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Criminal Possession of a Counterfeit Document The increased spread of the delta variant all over the country has motivated numerous schools, businesses, and local government institutions to require vaccinations cards to gain access into these establishments....
January 25, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Don’t Try this at Court What’s one thing you don’t want to do during a court appearance? ANSWER: Piss off the judge. As obvious as that may seem, we see it happen far too often. That’s...
January 25, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Do Show Respect Going to court can be a very intimidating experience. This is especially true if you have never been to court before. The first time you go to court, you may not know what...
January 21, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Corporal Punishment in Today’s World In days past, parents would whip out the belt or paddle or even their hand or a kitchen spoon to discipline their children with physical discipline. In today’s world, corporal punishment...
January 21, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Self-Defense Laws In California, as well as other states, it is considered your right to defend yourself, your property, or another person against impending danger. Sometimes this may involve committing actions that are against the law....
January 20, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

Expectations vs. Reality Most people associate first-time offenders with reduced sentences, lower fines, or being let off the hook entirely. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In fact, a first-time offense can be the most...
January 18, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

Most Cases Did you know that 95% of the cases tried in the states never make it to trial? Instead the cases are resolved with a plea bargain. Thus, if you are charged with a criminal...
January 14, 2022 by Sarah Edwards

The Duress Defense Under federal law, a defense of duress is allowed in a criminal case if the defendant admits to the crime. The defendant must also be able to prove that the crime was committed...
January 14, 2022 by Madison Ferguson

You Should Always Have an Attorney When facing a criminal charge, we cannot stress how important it is for you to get legal representation. Getting convicted for a criminal offense comes with numerous penalties such as...
January 06, 2022 by M. Bernard

Police Officer Conduct: False Reports Under California Penal Code 118.1, a police officer can be charged with misconduct for knowingly and intentionally filing a false report with the agency that employs him or her. The report...
January 04, 2022 by Alexandra Carter

Determining Probable Cause Under California law, law enforcement is required to have probable cause that someone is engaging or has engaged in criminal activity before any stop, search, or arrest is justified. Oftentimes, authorities will stop a...
December 29, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Taking the Plea Deal Similar to a settlement agreement in a civil lawsuit, the parties in a criminal case (i.e., the prosecution and the defense) can enter into what is known as a “plea bargain” in...
December 29, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

Sexual Health Laws Many states have laws that regulate behavior related to sexual health. When someone knowingly infects another person with a sexually transmitted disease, they may be held legally accountable. The California Health and Safety...
December 22, 2021 by Leonard Sawyer

Senate Bill 775 SB amends Senate Bill 1437 SB; Helping to vacate convictions under the Felony Murder Statute that used the Natural and Probable Consequence Theory Senate Bill 1437 How does Senate Bill 1437 help vacate...
December 21, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

Visiting Los Angeles and Arrested for a DUI? If you are visiting Los Angeles and are arrested for a DUI, you probably have many questions. Being arrested in any circumstance is stressful and overwhelming. This is...
December 20, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

A New Trend From Louis Vuitton in San Francisco to a mall in Walnut Creek and a Nordstrom department store in Los Angeles, California is currently seeing a surge in smash and grab robberies. Since November 18, there...
December 17, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

PC 26350 Penal Code 26350 is a law that prohibits a person from openly carrying an unloaded handgun in a public place or in a vehicle. PC 26350(a)(1) reads, in pertinent part, as follows: “A person...
December 17, 2021 by Chistian Bredefeld

The First Part of the Process A federal criminal investigation is the first of many parts of what is known as the Federal Criminal Process. This first part involves investigating federal crimes, usually conducted by federal...
December 16, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Was it Premeditated? In many states, including California, the prosecutor must prove a defendant acted with ‘malice aforethought’ in order to be found guilty of murder. There are two types of malice aforethought: Express — A defendant specifically...
December 15, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

DUI Second DUI Third DUI Fourth DUI Can You Get a DUI on an Electric Scooter in California? Suppose that you’re out for a night in Los Angeles with some friends. Perhaps you have a few...
December 15, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

It’s a Total Disregard for Life While there are many categories of murder outlined in criminal law, one you might not be familiar with is “depraved heart murder.” What does depraved heart murder consist of? Killing...
December 13, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

DUI Second DUI Third DUI Fourth DUI Overview Negligent driving in and of itself is a dangerous proposition. Involve alcohol and there is bound to be an unfortunate incident. The tragic injury or loss of life...
December 09, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Stricter Gun Laws California lawmakers are hoping stricter gun laws will help curb crime in the Golden States. Earlier this month, a federal appeals court in California reinstated the state’s ban on the sale and possession of high-capacity...
December 06, 2021 by M. Bernard

A Tale of Rehabilitation In the classic 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz,” once the Wizard is revealed as “a very good man, just a very bad wizard,” he gives the Scarecrow a diploma (in lieu...
November 28, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

Disparagement / Defamation Using the internet to express dissatisfaction with an individual or business has become an increasingly common practice. Social media posts, online reviews, and video-sharing sites all ensure that online content can reach a...
November 24, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Legality of Public Sex “Get a room!” is a common retort when two people publicly display their affection. But getting frisky in public is not always a laughing matter. Beyond a certain point, such affectionate flirting...
November 23, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Everyone Makes Mistakes If you were arrested, detained or involved with the juvenile justice system while under the age of 18 years old, there is more likely than not some sort of criminal record that exists....
November 23, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Prostitution There are quite a number of massage parlors throughout Los Angeles County. And for the most part, there’s no issue regarding these relaxing establishments. However, we all know of an instance where one of these...
November 22, 2021 by M. Bernard

What is the Crime of False Pretenses? Black’s Law defines “False Pretenses” as: “The crime of knowingly obtaining title to another’s personal property by misrepresenting a fact with the intent to defraud.” False Pretense is a...
November 22, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Fentanyl is Potent Fentanyl is up to 100 times more potent than other opioids, including morphine. Naturally, this makes it a very dangerous drug—especially when it is not used appropriately. Prescriptions for fentanyl can take the...
November 21, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Ignition Interlock Device Violations in California There are various penalties for driving under the influence in California. The consequences for being pulled over for a DUI offense vary based on age, driving status and blood alcohol...
November 19, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Murder – Penal Code 187 A question we often see at Esfandi Law Group is, “Can I be charged with murder if I’m involved in a DUI accident?” The answer is yes. In this post, we’ll...
November 19, 2021 by Chistian Bredefeld

What Defines Murder in California? PC 187 defines first degree murder, second degree murder and third degree murder, aka manslaughter, as follows: “The unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.” PC...
November 18, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

What is the Age of Consent in California? The legal age of consent is the age at which an individual can legally consent to undertake sexual relations with another. This age limit governs all intimate relations,...
November 12, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Criminal Background Checks and Sealing Arrest Record We’ve all been there—one of those nights. Perhaps you behaved a little out of character, or maybe it was just a case of being in the wrong place at...
November 12, 2021 by M. Bernard

Can I be convicted of a felony in California and not go to jail? Yes. It is possible to avoid jail or prison times after being convicted of a felony in California. Do I have to...
November 11, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

Domestic Violence and Children The COVID-19 pandemic has proved difficult for everyone. It has affected the nation’s health, livelihoods, and even our supply chain. It has also impacted our ability to leave the house and interact...
November 09, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

New California Senate Bill 81 In October, 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a new bill into law that is designed to limit the charges brought against people who have been previously traumatized or victimized, as...
October 28, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

After a California DUI Arrest There are several legal terms around the nation for driving while suspected of inebriation: driving under the influence (VC 23152), driving while intoxicated or impaired (DWI), impaired driving, or operating under...
October 26, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

Dismissal and Expungement If you are facing criminal charges that can impact your future, you might be wondering how to erase them from your record. Many people do not know the difference between a dismissal and...
October 25, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Don’t Incriminate Yourself If you are facing criminal charges or an investigation, your social media history can be used to incriminate you. Your posts, comments, images, and video can all be used as evidence against you...
October 22, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Judge or Prosecutor For many who think of a courtroom, the looming figure inside of it is the judge- sitting as an imposing figure in a black robe elevated above the rest of the players in...
October 21, 2021 by M. Bernard

Defining ‘Moral Turpitude’ I asked a friend to tell me what came to mind when he heard the phrase “Crime of Moral Turpitude.” He replied, “An act that violates acceptable moral standards. It describes the vileness...
October 20, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

How Do I Dress for Court? My Arraignment Date is Approaching… How Should I Dress in Court? A question that my clients frequently ask me is how they should dress in Court. Can I come in...
October 19, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Facing Consequences Facing criminal charges is a daunting scenario as it is, but adding negative immigration consequences on top of an already unbearable situation is unfortunately the reality of our American jurisprudence. For those who are...
October 16, 2021 by Sarah Edwards

California DUI (VC 23152) They say that buzzed driving is drunk driving—and in most cases, the law agrees. In the state of California, any driver with a blood alcohol content of .08% or higher is guilty...
October 15, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Prop 64 During the November 2016 general election, California voters let the country know how they felt about criminal convictions of the personal use, possession, cultivation or distribution of small amounts of marjiuana: DISMISS THEM ALL....
October 14, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Cyberstalking in California In the day and age of the Internet, how people are harassed, threatened or stalked has changed dramatically. Technology has done wonders for us, but it has also widened the means and ability...
October 11, 2021 by M. Bernard

The Definition of a “Toxic” Partner Dr. Lillian Glass is credited with coining the term “toxic relationship.” In her 1995 bestselling book, Toxic People, Glass explains that: “A toxic person is someone who seeks to destroy...
October 08, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

2021 Seppi Esfandi Law Scholarship Recipients Recipient #1: Thao “Annie” Le Selected by Scholarship Committee: $1,000 Law School: University of San Francisco School of Law Essay #1: Thao “Annie” Le’s Essay Recipient #2: Peyten Sharp Selected by...
October 06, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Know What’s at Stake Immigration Law in the United States is currently governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1965. Informally known as the Hart-Cellar Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act is a federal...
October 05, 2021 by M. Bernard

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month It’s been a hundred years since wife-beating was made illegal in the United States. Nevertheless, if you’ve seen the classic TV comedy, “The Honeymooners,” (1955-1956), you’ve probably seen fabulously fuming New...
September 30, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

2021 Seppi Esfandi Law Scholarships UPDATE We’ve received all the scholarships and have narrowed it down to 5. Thanks for your patience students, we expect the 2 winners to be announced before Monday October 4th! Best...
September 24, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

California Laws Allow it Attempted DUI is not possible I hear you saying.. Well, under California law it is. California Penal Code Section 21A is considered California’s catch-all attempted crime statute. The provision itself states: “[a]n...
September 22, 2021 by M. Bernard

It’s More Common than You Think It’s possible, even highly likely, that you or someone you know has been subjected to an unreasonable search and seizure. Both federal and California laws are supposed to protect you...
September 21, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Don’t Panic, Call a Pro So, you’ve been arrested for DUI. Now what? The first step to protecting yourself is arming yourself with a skilled and experienced DUI attorney. A DUI attorney is well-versed in California...
September 20, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Why does an Administrative Per Se Hearing Matter? When a driver is suspected of driving under the influence (DUI), the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has the discretion to bring an action to revoke the...
September 13, 2021 by Chistian Bredefeld

California Corporal Injury PC 273.5 Domestic violence is serious, and anyone who harms another innocent person physically through unprovoked assault should face penalties. However, sometimes these alleged domestic violence cases, which involve a partner accusing the...
September 10, 2021 by M. Bernard

Felony DUI in California A felony DUI is “a driving-while-intoxicated charge prosecutable as a felony because of an aggravating circumstance, esp. if a minor under a specified age (often 15 or below) was a passenger, the...
September 09, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

The Polymer80 So-called “ghost guns” are becoming a weapon of choice among criminals in Los Angeles. Now, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer is stepping in and filing a lawsuit on behalf of Los Angeles against...
September 09, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Yes, for Certain Felony DUIs One of the first questions we hear from serious felony DUI offenders — especially those who have prior DUI convictions is: “Will my license be permanently revoked?” The thought of never...
September 08, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Evidence Code Section 1200 Hearsay is generally inadmissible in legal proceedings, as hearsay statements are considered to be too unreliable to prove the truth of the matter stated. The rules of evidence in California are governed...
September 07, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

Good Questions to Ask a Criminal Defense Attorney: 1. What information do you need from me? When seeking to move forward with a criminal defense attorney, you want to know what types of information and documentation...
September 01, 2021 by Sheena Townsend

When should I hire a criminal defense attorney? Facing criminal charges is not something anyone hopes to have to deal with. However, hiring the right attorney at the right time is imperative to a successful outcome...
August 31, 2021 by Chistian Bredefeld

What Makes a Good Criminal Defense Attorney? While we as individuals face certain daily situations that are stressful, uncertain, and traumatic, one of the most worrying and scary situations someone can face is being charged with...
August 24, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

DUI Second DUI Third DUI Fourth DUI So You got Your Fourth DUI… This article is part of a series on DUI charges. In California, DUIs are seen up to repeat offenses up to the fourth...
August 20, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

DUI Second DUI Third DUI Fourth DUI Multiple DUIs: Third DUI Have you had multiple DUI convictions before? If so, then take caution. DUIs in CA are counted as priorable offenses. That is, repeat punishments come...
August 19, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

DUI Second DUI Third DUI Fourth DUI Second DUI? Time for an Attorney In Los Angeles California, judges and prosecutors take DUI convictions seriously. Getting convicted with a DUI the first time is a serious issue....
July 09, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Residential and Commercial Burglary? This is a common question that comes up in burglary charges (Penal Code Section 459). The short answer is that a residential burglary is known as first degree burglary, and is much...
June 30, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

DUI and ‘Own Recognizance’ Violations in Los Angeles There are many circumstances that require legal representation. If you have been charged with driving while under the influence (DUI) in Los Angeles. You should retain a lawyer...
June 29, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

So, You Need an Attorney… The question comes up frequently when a defendant or defendant’s loved one is searching for an attorney to defend against the charges. It’s cheaper to hire an attorney for the preliminary...
June 29, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Stakes are Raised Although being charged with driving under the influence is a frightening experience in its own right, drivers who are already on probation for prior DUI offenses or other crimes face even steeper penalties...
June 25, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Blood or Breath Test If the police stop you in California under suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), you’ll be given a choice to have either a blood or breath test for blood...
June 24, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

California is an ‘Implied Consent’ State In California, drivers who are arrested for DUI are typically given the choice between a breath or blood test. Since California is an “implied consent” state, any driver who refuses...
June 21, 2021 by James Eric

Contracting in California without a License Running a contracting business? If so, having a contractor’s license is necessary. If it expires (or worse, you lack one), you can be convicted for a misdemeanor. Below, we’ll discuss...
June 18, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Hate Crimes in Los Angeles Los Angeles sees a wide range of crimes each year, from theft to kidnapping. In the first half of 2021, Los Angeles has seen a considerable increase in hate crimes. As...
June 18, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Know Your Rights in Court As a defendant, you should always be aware of your rights in court. Knowing when to leverage your rights helps in many circumstances. It leads to lower sentences, dropped charges, etc....
June 02, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Arrest Arraignment Pre-trial Prelim. Hearing Trial Sentencing Post Stage 6: Sentencing Sentencing in General The Sentencing Hearing is, essentially, the last phase in a criminal proceeding. Once a criminal defendant is either found guilty by a...
June 02, 2021 by Michael Poole

How to Defend Against Aiding and Abetting Charges Aiding and abetting is more than a phrase used on TV. California prosecutors can charge accomplices to a crime with aiding and abetting even if the accomplice did...
June 01, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Senate Bill 300 – Reforming the Penalties for Murder Senate Bill 300 was originally introduced by Senator Dave Cortese. Proposed in February 2021, it’s slated to go into effect this year, and it comes with some...
May 27, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

SB 384- Stop The Registration & Get off Megan’s List! Effective January 1, 2021, a new three-tier sexual registration has been implemented in California. This means what used to be a lifetime sexual registration requirement may...
May 26, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

You’ve Been Drinking and You are Stopped Of all the crimes that the majority of people who have had no contact with the criminal justice system are likely to face, DUI or Driving Under the Influence...
May 25, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Arrest Arraignment Pre-trial Prelim. Hearing Trial Sentencing Post Stage 5: The Jury Trial Every criminal defendant in California has a right to a speedy trial. After the arraignment, the Defendant must be given a trial during...
May 24, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi
The Consequences of a Felony Conviction Have you or a loved one been arrested? Are you worried that they may be charged with a felony? If so, keep reading. Below, we’ll discuss what a felony is,...
May 24, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi
The Consequences of a Criminal Conviction Have you been arrested and charged for a crime? Or maybe someone close to you has? If so, you need an idea on the consequences of those crimes. That is,...
May 22, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Comparison of Crypto-related crimes in 2019 and 2020: New investment methods create hype among investors. This hype is a keyhole for hackers, who have now come into the light along with their schemes using cryptocurrency as...
May 20, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Arrest Arraignment Pre-trial Prelim. Hearing Trial Sentencing Post Stage 3: The Pre-Trial PreTrial Conference- Prelim Setting After an arraignment, the next phase in a criminal proceeding— assuming that, in a felony case, the right to a...
May 12, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Arrest Arraignment Pre-trial Prelim. Hearing Trial Sentencing Post Stage 4: The Preliminary Hearing For felony cases, the next stage after arraignment and possibly pre-trial, is the preliminary hearing, also commonly known as a “prelim.” If the...
May 11, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Arrest Arraignment Pre-trial Prelim. Hearing Trial Sentencing Post Stage 2: Arraignment First Court Date: The first court date after an arrest is called an Arraignment. After an arrest, a defendant who is in custody must be...
May 10, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Exchanging the Evidence The process of discovery is the process by which the parties in a criminal case get to obtain information from each other. Naturally, if you’re being arraigned before a federal court, as a...
May 05, 2021 by James Eric

Can You Terminate Your Sex Offender Status? Yes you can! Just 5 months ago, California changed its sex offender legislation. And that’s positive news for everyone. You see, California’s sex offender legislation has been around for...
May 04, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

A Surprise Announcement from California On April 30th, California made the surprise announcement that it would increase early release credits for approximately 76,000 current inmates, include those convicted for violent offenses and for multiple felonies. Historically,...
April 30, 2021 by James Eric

Is it Possible to be Removed from the Sex Offender List? Absolutely Yes! The new Senate Bill 384 applies to the state of California. Effective since January 1st 2021, it changes how sex offenders are categorized....
April 29, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Psychedelics in a New Light For many years, psychedelics were considered to be harmful drugs, but lately they’ve been used to treat mental health problems like depression with great success. Federally psychedelics are prohibited, however in...
April 28, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

In Jail with No Bail? Not Anymore According to the American Bar Association, about half a million people are currently in jail because they can’t afford to pay for their bail while they wait for their...
April 27, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

1. What is AB 3234? AB 3234- Get out of Jail for free. Get your Misdemeanor Case Dismissed Under this new Misdemeanor Diversion Law of 2021. AB 3234 originated from a pilot program in Los Angeles...
April 26, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

How Can AB 1950 Help You? After a person is convicted of a crime, whether by plea or verdict, there is a sentencing whereby the Judge can grant a term of “probation” in lieu of jail...
April 22, 2021 by Alexandra Carter

Can a Bad Breakup or Divorce Lead to Criminal Charges? We all know that breakups can get ugly. But what about breakups that get so nasty they lead to criminal charges? In these instances, the crime...
April 21, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Winning in Court for Domestic Violence in LA A conviction for domestic violence can have serious consequences to your family life, your work life, your reputation and your ability to possess or own guns. In terms...
April 21, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Were You Served with a Protective Order? When a person is charged with domestic violence, corporal injury to another (PC 273.5) or domestic battery (PC 243(e)(1)) they are required to be personally present at the first...
March 25, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Help is On the Way Domestic violence is a serious issue that faces our world today. It is also an issue that is confusing to understand. What counts as domestic abuse in a court hearing? When...
March 24, 2021 by Michael Poole

What if the Victim Doesn’t Want to Testify? Allegations of sexual assault and sexual molestation (PC 243.4) are hot beds of intense emotions that create the perfect conditions for a violent explosion of anger where cooler...
March 22, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Understanding California Domestic Violence Laws (PC 273.5) Under California Penal Code 273.5 PC, it is illegal to inflict corporal injury on a former spouse, co-parent, cohabitant, or dating partner. Corporal injury is any physical injury— no...
March 17, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

How to Go About Expunging a DUI from Your Record in California Expunging a DUI offers benefits for those with this previous conviction on their records. When you expunge the DUI, you do not erase it...
March 11, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

You Don’t Want this Charge Assault with a deadly weapon (PC 245) is a consequential and serious charge with potentially life-altering effects. In California, assault with a deadly weapon is a “wobbler”, meaning it can be...
March 09, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Military Diversion for California Veterans Studies show that as much as 30% of veterans experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The courts have recognized a link between the symptoms of PTSD, including disassociation, flashbacks, sleep disturbance,...
March 09, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

The Increase of Domestic Violence Due to the Pandemic The pandemic turned the lives of many people upside-down. As the coronavirus swept through the nation, even individuals who did not directly suffer from symptoms of the...
March 08, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Beating a DUI with an Independent Blood Test If you have recently been arrested for DUI, you likely know that you stand to lose a lot more than thousands of dollars if you are convicted of...
March 04, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Common Offenses related to ‘Domestic Violence’ in California When you think of domestic violence, you likely think of punches, kicks, and other blatant acts of violence. But, there are some things that the courts in California...
January 15, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

2021 Seppi Esfandi Law Scholarships School is difficult enough without having to worry about finances, that’s why we’ve created a fairly simple scholarship opportunity for all US law students. This year we are splitting the $2000...
January 10, 2021 by Seppi Esfandi

Hate Crime in California: Defined as a Bias The main purpose of hate crime laws in California, as incorporated under various California Penal Code sections, is to deter threats, violence and other violations, including civil rights...
December 28, 2020 by Seppi Esfandi

This is The Road to Recovery In Getting a Certificate of Rehabilitation, expungement is not an option for many Californians who are convicted of felonies, including sex crime convictions. But, the good news is that there...
December 23, 2020 by Seppi Esfandi

Sealing Your Arrest Record In Sealing Your Arrest Record subject, All across the state of California, over one million people are arrested annually. While many of these cases lead to prosecution and sometimes conviction, a significant...
December 22, 2020 by Seppi Esfandi

George Gascón is a Welcomed Change When George Gascón announced his campaign for LA’s New District Attorney, he promised “a safer, more humane, more effective and far less expensive criminal justice system.” Some critics dismiss him...
December 21, 2020 by Seppi Esfandi

How Criminal Charges Impact a Teacher in California Teachers are expected to be upstanding citizens. After all, they are responsible for molding the minds of society’s next generation. To ensure that only the best, most trustworthy...
October 17, 2020 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Increased Security and Your Rights Since 9/11, security has increased in all US airports, but criminal charges at the airport in LA(LAX) can be particularly frustrating due to the high volume of people and more intense...
September 27, 2020 by Seppi Esfandi

The Difference Between Felonies, Misdemeanors & Infractions Criminal offenses in California are classified according to their seriousness. They are categorized into 3 different types: Infractions Misdemeanors Felonies What’s the Difference? For crimes against property: the gravity...
December 18, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

Will ICE be Alerted about Getting a DUI Charge as an Undocumented Immigrant? Short answer for getting a DUI charge as an undocumented immigrant: It’s Probable. Here’s how: The arresting officer or agency may alert ICE...
December 13, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

Emotional Intelligence Prevails What if I am Falsely Accused of a Crime? Remain calm. Don’t lose your cool. After all, you’re innocent. Cool heads will prevail, and reasonable people will work things out. Why False Accusations...
December 13, 2019 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

Road Rage is Deadly What Crimes are Associated with ‘Road Rage’? Road rage often boils down to an accident or some kind of confrontation between drivers. These confrontations have a tendency to turn violent. For example,...
December 12, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

What is Forensic Evidence and the “CSI Effect”? Categories of Forensic Evidence and “CSI Effect”: A criminal defender can be confronted with many different types of evidence when defending a case: Evidence from people: police report,...
December 09, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

Money Buys Happiness Comfort In California, the ‘cost of comfort’ doesn’t only apply to the free world, it also applies to jail. From $0 to $250 per day, inmates who do not want to expose themselves...
November 27, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

Adversarial Justice System What is the Role of the Prosecution in a Criminal Case? The United States has what is known as an “adversarial judicial system” – in other words, criminal cases are contests between two...
October 24, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

‘Motion to Suppress’ Weakens the Prosecution’s Case You are innocent until proven guilty in a criminal case, even if you know you are guilty. A motion to suppress evidence is a request by the defense asking...
October 22, 2019 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

The Police Knock on Your Door One of the most frequent questions we get is: “Do I have to let cops in my house if they knock on my door and tell me they need to...
September 23, 2019 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

What crimes are “Deportable Crimes in California”? When it comes to deporting an immigrant out of the United States, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities are guided first and foremost by security concerns. So, what...
September 19, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

What Are The Steps in A Criminal Case? Arrest Arraignment Pre-trial Prelim. Hearing Trial Sentencing Post Criminal Cases in the State of California all follow the same basic procedures. It’s important to know these 7 crucial...
September 16, 2019 by Anastasiia Ponomarova

What is the Discovery Process in a Criminal Case? Discovery is the process by which evidence is exchanged between the criminal defense attorney and the prosecution prior to court or trial. The exchange of evidence is...
August 28, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

Federal Law Can I Own a Gun if I’m a Marijuana User? When purchasing a gun, you are required to fill out Federal “Firearms Transactions Record” Form (ATF Form 4473), where question 11e specifically inquires about...
July 31, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

Will a California DUI Impact My Life in the Long Term? California DUI Impact to people Life in the Long Term is a very serious offense. It is not something that will result in a slap...
May 29, 2019 by Seppi Esfandi

Nationwide Driving on Drugs: DUID Fatalities Surge For the first time in Driving on Drugs: DUID Fatalities Surge, there are now more drivers killed that are positive for drugs than those who were positive for alcohol....