Top 5 Things NOT To Do If You Have A Warrant For Your Arrest
Top 5 Things NOT To Do If You Have A Warrant For Your Arrest Each year, there are hundreds of thousands of warrants issued for a variety of crimes. Many people do not know what to do when there is a warrant out for their arrest. Doing the wrong things can lead to harsher consequences. If you have a warrant for your arrest, the most important thing to do is…
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California Must Pay Wrongly Convicted Persons Under PC Section 4900
California Must Pay Wrongly Convicted Persons Under PC Section 4900 Recently, two men who served 17 years in prison were released after they were found to be wrongly convicted of attempted murder. Under California law, the state is now required to pay them each about $900,000 for the time they spent behind bars. If you or a loved one has been wrongly convicted of a crime, you may be entitled…
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Don’t Let the Police or Prosecutors Violate Your Rights
Don't Let the Police or Prosecutors Violate Your Rights The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) were the subject of an extensive investigation by the United States Department of Justice. Last Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a report on the findings of its investigation of a custodial informant program in Orange County, finding that the program systematically violated criminal defendants’ Sixth…
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Can I Legally Record a Police Officer?
Can I Legally Record a Police Officer? When Can I Record a Police Officer? Due to concerns over police brutality and misconduct in recent years, many civilians have taken to recording interactions with law enforcement. Although recording an officer can be illegal under certain circumstances, this can be helpful information in any subsequent investigation into the officer's conduct. For example, if you believe that you have been wrongly stopped or…
Read MoreCOVID-19 is Not an Excuse: Courts Must Hold Preliminary Hearings Within 60 Days of Arraignment
COVID-19 is Not an Excuse: Courts Must Hold Preliminary Hearings Within 60 Days of Arraignment The question before the court in Lacayo v. Superior Court was whether there were such “extraordinary circumstances” presented by the COVID-19 global pandemic to justify “good cause” for continuance of the defendant’s preliminary hearing beyond the 60-Day Rule. On February 24, 2020, Defendant Kareem Lacayo (“Lacayo”) was arraigned on charges for possession of a firearm…
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Stopped by ICE: What are Your Legal Rights?
Stopped by ICE: What are Your Legal Rights? Today’s political climate has led to an increase in the amount of people who have been stopped by authorities questioning their immigration status. It has happened to green card holders, people visiting the country and even legal U.S. citizens. That is why it is important for you to know your rights if you are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.…
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Can School Officials Search a Student’s Cellphone without Consent?
Can School Officials Search a Student’s Cellphone without Consent? California law requires that all parties consent to any recording of a conversation, and the state has some of the toughest anti-paparazzi laws in the country. In light of the lengths California’s lawmakers have gone to protect privacy, it is not surprising that a law prohibits a search of a person’s cellphone without a warrant or consent. The question is: do…
Read MoreDo You Have Miranda Rights if You are Not Under Arrest?
Do You Have Miranda Rights if You are Not Under Arrest? “You have the right to remain silent.” We’ve all heard that phrase in movies and TV shows for years. This phrase is the beginning of your Miranda rights, which are legally supposed to be read to you when you are placed under arrest. Despite those rights, law enforcement officials are often trying to find ways to pressure you into…
Read MoreThe Definition of Detention and How It Affects Your Rights
The Definition of Detention and How It Affects Your Rights It is common knowledge that when you are arrested, the arresting officer is required to read you your Miranda rights. But sometimes, if and when you are actually placed under arrest can be unclear. The definition of when a detention or an arrest occurs has become one of the most important and heavily debated issues in criminal defense. When you…
Read MoreFrom Rapper to Rap Sheet: How Song Lyrics are Leading to Criminal Charges
From Rapper to Rap Sheet: How Song Lyrics are Leading to Criminal Charges Threatening lyrics in music are nothing new. Images of violent criminal acts have been transmuted into catchy verse-and-choruses by song writers spanning multiple ages and genres. From Bob Dylan and The Beatles, AC/DC and Alice Cooper, to the seminal rap group NWA, violence has been a recurring theme in popular music. While in the past artists who…
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