California residents like you who face down a harsh conviction may have heard the term "plea bargain". Some people will argue that this is a helpful tool. Others will say that it creates problems for those on trial. Despite being divisive, plea bargains have a place...
Because of crowded court dockets and limited financial resources, prosecutors often try to induce criminal defendants into accepting plea deals. In fact, about 97% of federal criminal cases end in plea bargains. While accepting a plea may be the right course of...
A new bill that the governor of California signed has been creating a lot of controversy. Supporters state that the bill's intention is to protect the LGBTQ community, while the opposition says it is a way to legalize pedophilia. The Los Angeles Times reports that the...
There are 51 different court systems in the United States of America. Each state has their own court system, and there is also a federal court system as well. Understanding if it is the state or the federal government charging you with a crime is important for your...
You maintain certain rights when interacting with authorities, and understanding what these rights are may help you avoid serious legal trouble. The rights you have when authorities pull you over in your vehicle differ to some extent from those you have when they stop...
You likely would never anticipate having to face a criminal charge (let alone one as serious as assault, manslaughter or murder). At the same time, you cannot predict not ever finding yourself in a situation where another threatened the immediate your safety (or that...
A California felony charge has the potential to upend your entire life if it leads to a conviction. If you have prior serious felony offenses, you may face even harsher penalties. In 1994, California implemented the “Three Strikes” sentencing law, which heightens the...
When it comes to a plea bargain, the first thing you should always keep in mind is that it is optional. You never have to take one, and no one can do anything to force you into accepting a deal. With that in mind, there are some situations in which taking the plea...
When working within the criminal justice system, it is important to understand the basics of law. Not all crimes are exactly the same, of course: getting a parking ticket or committing petty vandalism is considerably less serious of an offense than first-degree...
Law enforcement may use tactics such as stings or undercover operations in an effort to catch you and others in the act of breaking the law. However, when their efforts rise to the level of manufacturing crime, it may qualify as entrapment, which may serve as a valid...
