Selling Sidewalk Street Food No Longer a Crime in California
Selling Sidewalk Street Food No Longer a Crime in California
Street vendors have long set up on the streets of California cities to sell bacon-wrapped hot dogs and other food to passers by. While street vendors add to California’s unique flair, cities like Hollywood have struggled with how to address these unique businesses. Past efforts to legitimize street vendors have had little success. However, a new law will finally decriminalize street vending in California. Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946)…
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Glitch Blamed for Illegal Recording of Attorney-Client Phone Calls
The Constitution rights to remain silent and to an attorney are critical tools in the defense against criminal charges. Every person accused of a crime has these rights, which means it is your right to only speak to your attorney and to have those conversations protected by attorney-client privilege. Recently, a company working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department admitted to inadvertently recording phone calls that were protected by attorney-client…
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California Law Seeks to Cap Felony Prison Sentences
When you ask a criminal defense lawyer what penalties you will face for a crime, the answer you will receive is often “it depends.” That is because sentencing depends on numerous factors, including the facts of the case, the judge and whether any number of exceptions applies. However, California lawmakers are currently considering a bill that will eliminate that uncertainty by enacting a limit on the maximum number of years…
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Proposed Law Would Raise Age for Being Tried as an Adult in California
In California, minors as young as 14 can be subjected to the adult criminal justice system if they are charged with certain crimes. That means a 14-year-old child could be sentenced to life in prison. However, a new proposed law would raise the minimum age for being tried as an adult. Raising the Age Limit for Being Tried as an Adult (SB 1391) Senate Bill 1391 would require that all…
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Hate Crimes Rise in California for the Third Year in a Row
There was a 17.4 percent increase in the number of hate crime events reported in 2017, according to a report recently released by the California Department of Justice. The number of hate crime events in California increased from 931 in 2016 to 1,093 in 2017. Since 2014, the number of reported hate crimes in California has increased by nearly 44 percent. Religious bias accounted for the greatest increase in hate…
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Group Seeks to Ban ICE from Making Arrests in Courthouses
Last year, California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and then-Secretary of Department of Homeland Security John Kelly to urge them to cease the practice of arresting undocumented immigrants in courthouses. Now, a non-profit organization is petitioning California’s Judicial Council to create a rule that would prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from making arrests in California courthouses. Proposed Ban on Making Non-Criminal…
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Could You Be Arrested by ICE for Shopping in Orange County?
California has attempted to distance itself from the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Since President Trump took office, California has passed laws to protect undocumented immigrants and limit how local law enforcement cooperates with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. While California may be known for its welcoming stance on immigration, a well-known Orange County company was recently accused of working with a company that provides information to ICE.…
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California Voters to Decide Fate of Criminal Justice Reforms
Over the past few years, California voters and lawmakers have passed legislation aimed to reduce the prison population and focus on rehabilitation over incarceration. In 2014, voters approved Proposition 47, which lessened the punishment for several drug and property crimes. Two years later, voters passed Proposition 57, which allows inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes to apply for early release and participate in rehabilitation programs. However, critics say that criminal justice…
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Is the LAPD Surveilling “Probable” Offenders?
What is the job of a police officer? Is it to arrest those who commit crimes or is it to protect people from potential criminals? Is it both? A recent report by The Appeal, which cites a public records request lawsuit claiming that the Los Angeles Police Department is using data and analysts to monitor select neighborhoods, has sparked a controversy over how far the police should go in “protecting”…
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Am I Eligible for a Certificate of Rehabilitation?
Have you been convicted of a felony in California or been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor sex offense that requires you to register as a sex offender? If so, you may not have to carry the weight of your past on your shoulders anymore. With a Certificate of Rehabilitation, you can move on with your life. What is a Certificate of Rehabilitation? A Certificate of Rehabilitation is a court…
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