Failure to Appear in California
If you get charged with a crime, California law requires you to appear in court after your release from custody. What happens if you miss your court date? You can get penalized for failure to appear...
View ArticleModifying Probation Terms in California
For many misdemeanor and felony convictions, a judge might enact a probation sentence instead of incarceration. If you are under probation, you may have to meet regularly with your probation officer....
View ArticleWhat Is the Difference Between Assault and Battery?
Many people believe “assault” and “battery” are synonymous terms because you often hear them used together. However, under California law, assault and battery are two separate convictions. They can...
View ArticleApplication to Restore Gun Rights in California
Under California’s stringent firearms laws, you can lose your rights to own a gun if you are convicted of a felony or specific misdemeanors. However, an experienced criminal defense attorney may help...
View ArticleCalifornia SB 81 Seeks to Abolish Sentence Enhancements
California’s penal code allows judges to add sentence enhancements to a criminal charge. Sentence enhancements are not elements of the original crime; they are additional circumstances that increase...
View ArticleStatute of Limitations: California Theft
Under California law, the statute of limitations is the maximum period in which a prosecutor can file criminal charges. If the prosecution tries to charge you after this applicable time has elapsed,...
View ArticleIs Breaking and Entering a Felony?
You have probably heard the phrase “breaking and entering” used to describe forced entry in a TV police procedural drama. While media depictions have popularized the term, you might be surprised to...
View ArticleProperty Crimes in California
In California and many other places, a property crime relates to the destruction or theft of something belonging to someone else. This category of criminal activity includes non-theft-related crimes...
View ArticleJoyriding in Southern California
Penal Code 487(d)(1) is the California statute defining vehicle theft, also known as grand theft auto. According to this section, it is a crime to take someone else’s vehicle, worth $950 or more,...
View ArticleProbation vs. Parole
Probation and parole are two similar terms you might mistakenly use interchangeably, but they are not identical. The primary distinction is procedural. While probation allows someone to remain in...
View ArticleHate Crime Statistics in California
In a year characterized by social and political unrest and widespread public protests demanding racial justice, 2020 also saw a 31% surge in hate crimes in California, according to a report from the...
View ArticleHow to Beat Possession of Stolen Property Charges
While many laws make it illegal to take someone else’s possessions without their express permission, California Penal Code Section 496(a) also makes it a crime to buy, receive, sell, hide or withhold...
View ArticleIs Perjury a Misdemeanor in California?
Many fans of dramas depicting courtroom proceedings are familiar with the question, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?” If you have sworn any version of a...
View ArticlePublic Intoxication in California
Under California law, being publicly intoxicated is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. As part of the state’s disorderly conduct law, California Penal...
View ArticleAverage Sentence for Drug Possession in California
According to California Health and Safety Code 11350(a), you can face legal consequences if the authorities catch you in possession of any usable amount of illicit drugs like cocaine or meth, or...
View ArticleWhat Is PC 148?
California Penal Code 148 makes it illegal to resist an arrest performed by a law enforcement official or first responder in the line of duty. The punishments for violating PC 148 are a fine up to...
View ArticleHow to Avoid Jail Time for Driving on a Suspended License
If your driver’s license has been suspended due to reckless driving or a DUI, and you decide to drive anyway, you should be aware of the consequences you might face. California Vehicle Code 14601...
View ArticleTypes of Burglary Charges in California
California Penal Code 459 defines burglary as a crime against property, punishable by up to six years in state prison. You commit this offense when you enter any commercial or residential building or...
View ArticleHow to Beat Obstruction of Justice Charges
As U.S. history buffs know, obstruction of justice was one of the charges at the heart of the Watergate scandal, which eventually led to President Richard Nixon’s infamous resignation from office in...
View ArticleCalifornia Penal Code 602: Trespassing Laws
Trespassing is a crime you can commit by being on someone’s property without their express permission. In most cases, it’s a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of $1,000....
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