Eyewitnesses play a valuable role in prosecuting people for crimes. Yet, they sometimes get things wrong, leading to innocent people being imprisoned. To the police and prosecution, it seems simple: Mr. X says they saw you at the scene of the crime at the time it took...
While it is common in California to see everyone from the CEO to the employees wearing jeans and a hoodie, even Mark Zuckerberg wears a suit when he goes to court. No rule dictates that you must dress or wear your hair a certain way when going to court. Yet the...
Extortion is the unlawful act of obtaining property (whether money, items, or favors) through threats or force. Since it can victimize ordinary U.S. citizens as well as public officials, most states take an aggressive stance against extortion. In California and other...
If you have lived in California for a time, you know our state suffers from many out-of-control fires. Frequent drought conditions, soaring temperatures and dry plant life combine to make wildfires particularly destructive. All states take a harsh stance against arson...
Murder is a violent crime and one that is among the worst that a person can commit. When you are accused of such a serious act, you have to take your case seriously and do all you can to minimize the risk to your life and liberties. You could be accused of murder...
Many people think of kidnapping as an elaborately planned and executed crime, involving taking someone by force or at gunpoint, hiding them and then demanding money from loved ones. Movie franchises and countless episodes of TV shows have been devoted to it. The crime...
Being accused of committing any crime can be devastating. With your reputation, freedom, career or even life on the line, it is perfectly normal to be worried about how things will turn out for you. However, it is important to understand that your words and actions...
When you are arrested for a crime, the prosecution’s job is to prove you are guilty. Even though this is the case, you may be retained and kept in custody during your trial process. There’s no question that being arrested and kept in jail can be a stressful and...
Actions that lead to or cause another person to die typically lead to felony charges in California. Depending on the details of the offense, a defendant could face one of two especially serious felony charges: first-degree or second-degree murder. Any murder charge is...
If you are stopped by the police and end up being arrested, you may already know that you should keep your conversation to a minimum. You don’t want to say or do something that could imply that you were involved in a crime or be perceived as an admission of guilt....
