What You Need to Know About the Elder Abuse Act Expansion

By: Wallin & Klarich

In order to protect elderly persons and dependent adults, the Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act was expanded at the beginning of this year. Specifically, the Act was broadened to reduce abuse in the form of isolation, which was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Act allows petitioners to obtain an order …

Posted In: News & Information

Failed Bid to Recall LA District Attorney Is a Win for Criminal Justice Reform

By: Wallin & Klarich

Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón took office in December of 2020. Since then, he has faced two recall bids, both of which have been unsuccessful at removing him from office. Recently, he defended his policies against critics who deem him to be too soft on crime and stated that he would continue working to …

Posted In: Criminal Justice Reforms

Legally Recording a Police Officer in Southern California

By: Wallin & Klarich

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 …

Posted In: News & Information

Drug Diversion Programs for DUIs in California

By: Wallin & Klarich

What Are Drug Diversion Programs?  In criminal law, a diversion is an alternative to criminal prosecution and incarceration, allowing first-time, low-level offenders a chance to participate in a rehabilitation program and subsequently have their charges dismissed. Drug diversion, specifically, offers non-violent drug offenders to get addiction treatment and education instead of jail time. California Penal …

Posted In: DUI & Drunk Driving

California’s New Bills Allow Gun Manufacturers to Be Sued

By: Wallin & Klarich

With the recent rise in gun violence, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law two bills allowing individuals and state and local governments to sue gun manufacturers and sellers for negligence. The following article explains the two bills, Assembly Bill 1594 and Senate Bill 1327, in detail.  Assembly Bill 1594  While existing law generally regulates …

Posted In: Fire Arms & Weapons

Southern California Courts Reinstate Bail for Non-Violent Offenders

By: Wallin & Klarich

What Was California’s Emergency Bail Schedule?  Beginning in April 2020, the Los Angeles Superior Court adopted an emergency bail order in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 in jails. In essence, the order allowed those accused of misdemeanors and lower-level crimes to continue working and living at home rather than staying in overcrowded jails. …

Posted In: Bail

Challenges to California’s Three Strikes Law

By: Wallin & Klarich

What Is California’s Three Strikes Law?  In 1994, California enacted the Three Strikes law. In essence, this law punished repeat offenders by increasing the sentencing terms for each subsequent crime after the first. The law grants that if you are convicted of a felony after you already have one prior conviction, you will be sentenced …

Posted In: Three Strike Crime

California Ends Arrests for Loitering for Prostitution

By: Wallin & Klarich

California’s Prostitution Laws  Prostitution, also known as the “world’s oldest profession,” is the act of engaging in sexual activity for compensation and is prohibited in virtually all 50 states. Call girls, escorts, streetwalkers, and brothels are all examples of prostitution. A person who solicits, consents to engage in, or engages in any act of prostitution …

Posted In: Prostitution

You Can’t Sue Police for Violating Your Miranda Rights

By: Wallin & Klarich

The Case of Vega v. Tekoh  The case of Vega v. Tekoh involved a sexual assault investigation at a medical facility in Los Angeles. The prime suspect, Terence Tekoh, worked at the facility and was interrogated by a deputy sheriff, Carlos Vega. Vega did not provide Tekoh with his Miranda rights, which are a type …

Posted In: Miranda Rights

People v. Padilla | Proposition 57 During Resentencing

By: Wallin & Klarich

What Is Proposition 57?  In November of 2016, California voters passed Proposition 57, changing the way that juveniles could be charged for crimes. Prop 57 was part of an effort to reform the state’s criminal justice system, highlighting more lenient treatment for children. For juveniles, this meant that prosecutors could no longer directly determine whether …

Posted In: Juvenile Justice Reform