Supreme Court Rules for Inmates Seeking Reduced Prison Sentences
Supreme Court Rules for Inmates Seeking Reduced Prison Sentences
What Is the First Step Act? In order to understand the Supreme Court ruling earlier this week regarding reduced prison sentences for inmates, it is first necessary to understand what the First Step Act is. In December of 2018, then-President Trump signed the First Step Act into law. The act was part of a bi-partisan effort to reform the criminal justice system and improve its outcomes. Its goal was to…
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Fireworks Laws to Know for Your July 4th Celebration
Types of Fireworks: Which Are Legal? With the Fourth of July coming up, you may be thinking about putting on a celebration. If so, you will need to know California’s laws regarding fireworks, as not all of them are legal in the state. According to California Health and Safety Code Section 12511, “fireworks” is defined as any device containing chemical elements and compounds capable of burning independently of the oxygen…
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People v. Watts: Prosecution Consent Not Required for Diversion
People v. Watts: Prosecution Consent Not Required for Diversion What Is Mental Health Diversion? In criminal law, a diversion is an alternative to criminal prosecution where a first-time, low-level offender is given a chance to participate in a rehabilitation program and subsequently have the charges against him dismissed. Mental health diversion, specifically, allows some defendants with mental health issues to receive care and treatment rather than jail time when they…
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What You Need to Know About California’s Knife Laws
What You Need to Know About California’s Knife Laws Can I Carry a Knife in California? The laws regarding possessing and carrying knives in California can be complicated. Although carrying a knife is not always illegal, carrying a weapon of any kind can increase your chances of trouble with law enforcement. Even if you are ultimately found to be acting within a legal context, you may still face the inconvenience…
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What Are Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude?
What Are Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude? Crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMTs) are a general category of crimes that involve dishonesty or fraud, or a depraved act that shocks the conscience of a reasonable person. Such a crime always requires intent, meaning that the defendant must have willfully or intentionally acted with the knowledge that the action would harm another. Some examples of CIMTs include murder, rape, arson, robbery, child abuse,…
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How Do Prosecutors Prove Hate Crimes?
How Do Prosecutors Prove Hate Crimes? What Are Hate Crimes? California Penal Code Section 422.55 defines a hate crime as a criminal act committed because of an actual or perceived characteristic of the victim, such as the victim’s disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. Hate crimes can have an especially devastating effect because they send a message of intolerance and instill fear in the community that…
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Synthetic Cannabis Laws in California
Synthetic Cannabis Laws in California What Is Synthetic Cannabis? Synthetic cannabinoids, or synthetic cannabis, are man-made chemical alternatives to marijuana. Although these products boast the same effects as marijuana while eluding drug test detection, they can also cause serious side effects. Because synthetic cannabis is much more powerful than marijuana, its effects can be dangerous and unpredictable. People who use these products often experience vomiting, agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, seizures, organ…
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Ghost Guns: California’s Legal Requirements for Self-Made Firearms
Ghost Guns: California’s Legal Requirements for Self-Made Firearms What Are Ghost Guns? As a result of California’s restrictive gun laws, self-made firearms have risen in popularity. These so-called “ghost guns” are manufactured outside of the traditional supply chain. They may be built on a 3-D printer, or put together using individual components sold by hundreds of companies that make almost finished weapons. The nearly completed firearms, known as "80 percent…
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Penalties for Illegal Abortions in California
Penalties for Illegal Abortions in California California’s Abortion Law Abortion refers to the deliberate termination of a pregnancy, generally using medicine or surgery to remove an embryo or fetus from the uterus. In California, abortion has been legal since 1967, and the state retains stronger reproductive health rights than much of the rest of the nation. Despite this, California does impose certain restrictions on these procedures. The right to an…
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How To Defeat Robbery Charges In Orange County
How To Defeat Robbery Charges In Orange County Are you facing prison time for a robbery in Orange County? If so, the first thing you need to do is hire a skilled defense lawyer. Our law firm has over 40 years of experience defeating robbery charges throughout Southern California. The good news is you can call us today for a free consultation with no obligation. You’ve probably heard of California’s…
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