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Proving Money Laundering Charges Money laundering is a criminal transgression characterized by concealing or camouflaging unlawfully obtained funds to present them as legal. The prosecution must meticulously establish multiple crucial elements to the extent that leaves no reasonable uncertainty t...

A hoarder hoarding in Koreatown, Los Angeles. What is Hoarding? Before delving into the legal aspects pertaining to hoarding, it is imperative to possess a fundamental comprehension of the actual condition. According to the Mayo Clinic, hoarding represents a mental health disorder that is clinica...

Being arrested is an unsettling and nerve-racking time for anyone. If you've never been arrested for a federal crime before, you likely have questions about what to expect from your first federal court appearance. Federal courts work a little differently from state courts. Hiring a criminal defen...

The Purpose of California Juvenile Court In one of the landmark US Supreme Court criminal cases in the areas of California juvenile court delinquency, Kent v US 383 US 541 (1966), the Court described the states' California juvenile court system as the “parens patriae” of juveniles adjudicated und...

Due to the Sex Crimes with Possible Life Sentences subject, in California, it is quite commonly understood that a criminal gets three strikes before being sentenced to life, in most instances. This Three Strikes Law means one who commits three violent, or otherwise serious, felonies can be senten...

It's More Common than You Think It's possible, even highly likely, that you or someone you know has been subjected to an unreasonable search and seizure. Both federal and California laws are supposed to protect you (and your property), ensuring that you have a reasonable expectation of privacy. ...

Understanding Lack of Probable Cause Under California Criminal Law Being arrested or investigated when you've done nothing wrong can feel shocking and unfair. In many cases, the entire case may hinge on whether the police had probable cause to make that arrest or search. A lack of probable cause ...

The Consequences of a Felony Conviction Have you or a loved one been arrested? Are you worried that they may be charged with a felony? If so, keep reading. Below, we'll discuss what a felony is, how it's sentenced, and how to avoid a jail sentence. First – What is a Felony? Crimes in California a...

The Criminal Justice Process In Talking to the District Attorney as a Witness subject, When someone is arrested, they may or may not ultimately have charges filed against them. This means someone can be arrested for a crime, but the district attorney will review the police report and any availabl...

Does My Criminal Record Appear on Background Checks? The simple answer is yes. Depending on the intensity and how far back the background search goes, your criminal record will most likely appear on it. Let's dive deeper… Who Does Background Checks? There are various reasons why people conduct ba...

Understanding Entrapment in California Entrapment in California occurs when law enforcement persuades or pressures someone into committing a crime they would not have otherwise committed. It's a legal defense used in criminal cases where officers cross the line from investigation into coercion. W...

Abuse or Assault? In most sex crimes cases, you have probably heard the terms sexual abuse or sexual assault used. These terms are often used interchangeably when describing sex crimes. However, these two are considered different offenses under California law, and understanding the difference bet...

Try Not to Do This The 4th of July Independence Day often means barbecues, fun in the sun, and for many, some adult beverages, too. Although its supposed to be a day of celebration, July 4th has also become a day when certain crimes spike. Whether its a misjudged decision to get on the road tha...

‘Parental Kidnapping' in California Criminal restraint by a parent in California is often described as ‘parental kidnapping'. What most parents do not know is that they can be arrested for kidnapping their own children. In fact, in most kidnappings involving children, the perpetrator is usuall...

Sometimes, Freedom isn't Free After having been sentenced to probation, the gavel bangs, and youre free to leave the courtroom. But, to what extent are you free to travel the world? The degree to which criminal probation can affect your travel plans depends on the specific terms outlined by the c...

Procedural DefenseFactual DefenseAffirmative DefenseCommon Defenses What Is a Factual Defense In Criminal Law? When a criminal defense attorney prepares to defend a client in court, they must decide which defense approach will best serve the circumstances of a case. There are a great number of po...

Justice System for Juveniles The first Juvenile Court was established in 1899 when Illinois passed the Juvenile Court Act. This court system was created to divert youth offenders from the crippling effects of adult criminal penalties, and focus on rehabilitation and supporting the youth to get th...

Harassing or Annoying Harassment is regarded as any behavior, be it physical, written, verbal, or other, that is unwanted and could offend or humiliate another person. With the mainstream popularity of smartphones and other electronic devices, some individuals have chosen to move their harassment...

Drugging Someone for Sexual Intercourse One of the key factors that come up in most sexual offense cases is whether consent was given or not. For any sexual activity committed both parties must be able to clearly state their consent to the sexual activity. However, for consent to be legal in Cali...

Investigating Arson There are four ways a fire can start in a building: accident action of nature negligence intentional Intentionally and maliciously setting fire to a building is regarded as arson. Arson occurs when a person willingly and knowingly burns a building with the intent to ...

Procedural DefenseFactual DefenseAffirmative DefenseCommon Defenses What Is An Affirmative Defense In Criminal Law? It is said in criminal law, that all criminal cases are defensible and all crimes or criminal charges are made up of specific elements, that need to be looked at from every angle po...

Undercover Police in California If you ask most individuals this question, chances are, they would probably say yes. A surprisingly large number of people all over the country believe that police are supposed to identify themselves whenever you ask them. However, this could not be further from th...

Receiving a grand jury subpoena can be intimidating, especially if you don't know why you've been called or what your legal rights are. You may worry that you're under investigation, or that saying the wrong thing could get you in trouble. Understanding what a grand jury subpoena is and how to re...

Filing Fraudulent Tax Reports Each year a percentage of the US population is required to file their taxes correctly. However, it is not out of the ordinary for an individual to falsify the information on their tax reports to get a bigger refund or land themselves in a lower tax bracket. Choosing ...

The Different Types of Liars Every human being, at one point or another, has told a lie. Whether it is to protect someones feelings or avoid an uncomfortable situation, everyone tells a lie every now and then. However, the frequency with which someone lies will depend on the type of liar they are...