Being charged with a crime does not automatically mean the case will end in a conviction or even reach a trial. Criminal cases can change considerably between the filing of charges and a scheduled trial date. New evidence may emerge, witnesses may provide additional...
Yes, many people can get off the sex offender registry in California. Since January 1, 2021, California has used a three-tier system under Senate Bill 384 that replaced mandatory lifetime registration for most offenses. Registrants in Tier 1 or Tier 2 can petition the...
Being arrested or learning that criminal charges have been filed against you can bring a flood of questions. One of the first court appearances you may encounter is an arraignment. An arraignment may seem like a relatively short hearing, but it is an important stage...
Yes, in California, words alone can lead to a felony. Under Penal Code 422, a person can be charged with making criminal threats without ever touching anyone, if prosecutors believe the statement threatened death or great bodily injury and caused the other person to...
Evidence can shape nearly every part of a criminal prosecution. Drugs recovered from a vehicle, information extracted from a cell phone, property discovered inside a home, or evidence obtained after a police detention may all become central to the government’s...
No, the alleged victim cannot drop domestic violence charges in California. Once police make an arrest and the case is sent to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the prosecutor decides whether charges are filed, reduced, or dismissed. The...
