What It Means to Expunge Convictions in California
Going through a criminal investigation is not easy. If you have been charged with and sentenced for a crime, you may have the conviction expunged. This is often confused with the closely related motion to seal, where one asks the court to have a criminal record sealed. A California expungement (or expunction) is a legal proceeding where […]
Properly Dealing with Assault Charges
Assault and battery charges are some of the most difficult cases to handle. These two often come together, but important distinctions must be made to minimize errors. An offender who intentionally threatens manipulates, or intimidates an alleged victim and then actually commits an act that leads to serious bodily injury can be charged with assault […]
What is a Violent Crime in California?
Violent crimes or violent felonies are those crimes where the perpetrator or offender uses force or threat on a victim. A violent felony can be done even with or without the use of firearms or weapons for crimes related to violence include malicious hostility toward other people and behaviors like lack of self-control, anger, mental […]
Domestic Violence Accusations: Here’s What to Do As the Accused
When you are convicted because of domestic violence, your entire life undergoes a full 180-degree turn. Your reputation might be ruined and it will be on your criminal record permanently. However, it’s not yet over until it’s proven that you are indeed guilty. You still must stand in court and defend yourself. Fortunately, you can […]
Dismissing a Case in California
When faced with a criminal case, defendants usually have to go to court to defend themselves so that the charge can be reduced, or better yet, completely dismissed. However, in a lot of cases, dismissals may occur pretrial and defendants don’t even have to defend themselves in court. Many cases can be dismissed even before […]
California Warrant Search – What are Warrants and How to Know If You Have One
Warrants are orders issued by judges on behalf of the state that allows the police department, or another body, to search premises (search warrant), make arrests (warrant of arrest), or perform an action related to the administration of justice. According to California Law, there are two types of warrants that allow law enforcement officers to […]
What are Criminal Defense Lawyers and 11 Reasons You Should Get One
Criminal defense lawyers, also known as criminal lawyers, criminal attorneys, and public defenders, are a type of lawyers that defend entities that have been charged with a crime, including individuals, organizations, and corporations. The scope of their work spans the different crimes covered in the U.S. penal code and state laws which include, but are […]
Understanding Disorderly Conduct in California
Disorderly conduct, also known as disturbing the peace, involves actions done in public that may be disruptive or offensive. Depending on the state, public intoxication may be considered as part of disorderly conduct or the state may have separate laws specific to being drunk in public. Still, alcohol and drugs are often a common factor […]
Records Expungement in California
Getting a job nowadays is very hard. Get a criminal offense and it becomes next to impossible. Fortunately, under the California Penal Code and criminal justice system, persons charged with criminal offenses can apply for expungement which can wipe out their criminal history and the associated penalties and disabilities. The main benefit of this is […]
California Criminal Background Check
Job hunting has never been easy, having a criminal record certainly does nothing to help it make it any easier. Studies have shown that most employers actively perform background checks to screen potential employees. They often also ask about applicants’ criminal histories during interviews. Unfortunately, this is bad news to the roughly 8 million California […]