DNA matches, fingerprints, blood evidence, and laboratory results can sound definitive when they are presented in a criminal case. Television and movies often reinforce the idea that forensic evidence provides a simple scientific answer: a sample is collected, a test...
In most cases, yes. When a person successfully completes pretrial drug diversion under California Penal Code 1000, the court dismisses the charges and the arrest is treated as if it never happened. With a few limited exceptions, the person can lawfully say they were...
An eyewitness pointing to a suspect and saying, “That’s the person I saw,” can be powerful evidence in a criminal case. Unlike fingerprints, DNA, or digital records, however, eyewitness identification depends heavily on human perception and memory. A...
What someone says to police can become some of the most important evidence in a criminal case. A short answer during a traffic stop, a conversation with detectives, or a recorded interview after an arrest may later be used by prosecutors to establish intent,...
A cell phone can contain an extraordinary record of a person’s daily life. Text messages, photographs, emails, internet searches, location history, social media activity, financial information, contacts, and app data may all become potential sources of evidence...
