According to a recent report by the LA Times, California is experiencing a backlog of mentally ill and developmentally disabled defendants who have been ruled incompetent to stand trial. The problem is reportedly directly related to a lack of funding…
As experienced white collar crime defense attorneys, we know that regardless of career or social standing, anyone can be accused of or indicted for a white collar crime. These offenses are generally those that are financially motivated, and typically do…
Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer, is often celebrated with barbecues, family picnics and outdoor parties. Those partaking in these festivities should do so wisely, as many cities throughout the state of California are increasing their drunk driving…
Penal Code Section 243.4 defines sexual battery as follows: Any person who touches an intimate part of another person while that person is unlawfully restrained by the accused or an accomplice, and if the touching is against the will of the person touched…
Drug crimes in California involve the possession, sale, transportation, manufacturing, transportation for sale of an unlawful narcotic, money laundering, drug trafficking and distribution. Narcotics crimes and drug offenses are the unlawful use or possession of narcotics including cocaine in its…
The recently passed Prop 47 changed some felony and wobbler offenses to misdemeanors, but local jails continue to feel the burden of overcrowding. To help reduce inmate populations, some counties are introducing new alternatives to serving jail time. How Misdemeanor Diversion Works…
In 2012, California lawmakers passed the Fair Sentencing for Youth Act, which gave new guidelines for sentencing youthful offenders. In 2014, SB 260 went into effect, which required parole commissioners to consider whether juveniles had diminished capacity at the time…
When George Holliday recorded grainy footage of Los Angeles police officers beating Rodney King outside his apartment in 1991, he sold the video to KTLA for $500 and watched it become a worldwide sensation. This year, a man used his…
Penalties for a regular DUI are serious enough, but an aggravated DUI is even more serious. Aggravated DUIs typically bring enhanced penalties. A DUI is upgraded to aggravated DUI for several reasons, such as: Causing an accident with another car in…
A pardon is only one of many ways that a person convicted of a crime in California can obtain post-conviction relief, allowing them to clean their record and move forward with their lives. Here is an overview of some of…