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....
The discovery process helps you plan your defense
Police officers and investigators may spend months gathering evidence before they charge you with a crime. The goal is to have enough evidence to convince a jury to convict you, which means they need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you broke the law. If you...
Do you have to open the door to the police?
If the police knock on your door, it is essential to understand your rights. While they might be calling for an innocent reason, there is a good chance they are not. Police typically knock on doors when they want something from you. Be that information or evidence....
California’s criminal justice system is undergoing some changes
Like many other states in this country, California developed a “tough-on-crime” policy back in the 1990s. Like many other states, California has found that its draconian criminal justice system led to more problems – including overcrowded prisons filled with people...
Can you defend yourself at home with a firearm in California?
You legally own a handgun. You mostly use it for target practice. It’s a fun pastime with your friends, and you like seeing your accuracy get better. But you also own that gun because you want to make sure you and your family are safe. The criminals have guns, after...
When does drunk driving lead to a felony charge in California?
You can generally sort drunk driving offenses into two basic categories. The first category includes victimless crimes that involve technical infractions. An officer sees someone swerving and pulls them over, eventually arresting them because of their poor driving...
What was the most common white-collar crime in 2020?
White-collar crimes are those that involve lying or otherwise defrauding an individual or business for financial gain. These crimes are generally not violent, leading to monetary loss not physical harm. As such, some may assume that the penalties are not too severe....
3 reasons criminal charges are worse for college students
College is a time of learning and personal growth. Many college students change their majors or career plans as they develop better knowledge of the world around them. Other college students will experience hardship that results in them dropping out, meaning a future...
How does the LAPD use people’s social media information?
There has been considerable reporting recently on the Los Angeles Police Department’s gathering, monitoring and use of people’s social media information. The practice isn’t new. The LAPD had a place for “social media accounts” on its field interview (FI) cards at...
What you need to know about grand juries
The idea of having to face a grand jury during a criminal investigation can be intimidating to anybody. Not only is your future in question, you probably have no idea how the process of a grand jury works. If you’re in trouble, the more you know about grand juries the...