Criminal Defense
Without Proper Regulation, Prosecutorial Misconduct is Likely to Continue
What this Means for Criminal Defendants and their Attorneys Last year, Ted Stevens, the 85-year-old former Senator from Alaska was convicted of corruption charges. Charges against Stevens played a pivotal role in voters failing to reelect the seven-term senator to office. But months after jurors found Stevens guilty, the Attorney General dismissed the case citing prosecutorial misconduct. This case is a prime example of the potential for misconduct by both…
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Concurrent vs. Consecutive Sentences | Everything You Need To Know
Everything You Need To Know About Concurrent vs. Consecutive Sentences Concurrent sentences are usually handed down when multiple criminal offenses are committed at once or when someone is charged for multiple counts of the same crime. In these cases, the sentences are "concurrent," meaning they overlap and are served simultaneously. This means that instead of serving multiple jail terms one after the other, the individual may only have to serve…
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Top 5 Most Common Crimes In Los Angeles
Top 5 Most Common Crimes in Los Angeles In recent years, Los Angeles has seen a rise in crimes all across the board including property crimes and violent crimes. Because of this upward trend, the Los Angeles Police Department has put more effort into making arrests for these crimes in an effort to curb the City’s crime rates. If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, it is…
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Is Sleepwalking a Valid Criminal Defense?
The Science Behind Sleepwalking Sleepwalking is a parasomnia, or sleep disorder, that affects about 20 percent of people throughout their lives. While most instances of sleepwalking disappear during childhood, some people continue to sleepwalk as adults. This can be caused by a chemical imbalance, fatigue or stress, or alcohol or drug abuse. In most cases, sleepwalkers are harmless, but sometimes, parasomnia can lead to reckless behaviors or harmful actions. Research…
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With New Exceptions, Employers Can Mandate That Employees Get Vaccinated
With New Exceptions, Employers Can Mandate That Employees Get Vaccinated With an increased presence of the delta variant of covid-19 sweeping across the nation, institutions are being forced to make tough decisions when it comes to the vaccine. Many colleges, like California state schools, are requiring vaccines to attend on-campus classes and live in on-campus housing. This week, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that public employees, along with on-site private or…
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Supreme Court Conservative Majority Makes a U-Turn On Life Sentences Without Parole For Juveniles
Supreme Court Conservative Majority Makes a U-Turn On Life Sentences Without Parole For Juveniles Due to the recent Supreme Court appointments made by former President Trump, the Supreme Court has now become predominantly conservative. Rulings are now being made by six conservative Justices and three liberal Justices, which means Supreme Court decisions are being weighed by a conservative majority. The Supreme Court has recently ruled over a case regarding the…
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Is Criminal Justice Reform Helping Lower the Crime Rate?
In 2010, California began what is being called the “justice reform era.” That is when new legislation, voter-approved initiatives, and court mandates began to make sweeping changes to the state’s justice system. So, is California starting to see the effects of these laws? Recently, a non-profit group Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice released a study of the justice reform era to find out what impact these laws have had.…
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10 Rules Businesses Selling Marijuana in California Must Follow
Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, businesses in California will be able to apply for a license to sell marijuana. Recently, the California Bureau of Cannabis Control, Department of Food and Agriculture, and Department of Public Health released a nearly 300-page rulebook of regulations that new and established marijuana businesses will have to follow if they are issued a license to sell marijuana. Here are the 10 most important rules and regulations…
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California Removes Mandatory Sentence Enhancements for Using a Gun During a Crime
California is strict when it comes to gun laws. For instance, using a gun in any way during the commission of a felony crime carries mandatory prison time. However, this will change when a new law recently passed in California takes effect on January 1, 2018. The law will remove the mandatory prison time for using a gun during a crime. California Ends Mandatory Sentence for Using Firearm During Crime…
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California Bail System is Unfair, According to Report
California’s bail system could soon see significant changes after a year-long study recently concluded with a recommendation that monetary bail be replaced with a risk-based assessment system and supervision programs. In October 2016, California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye established the “Pretrial Detention Reform Workgroup.” The group recently reported the findings of its study, which include the fact that California's money bail system is "unsafe and unfair." Does this mean bail…
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