Laws defining disorderly content differ among municipalities and states, and the conduct encompassed in these ordinances and laws are broad. Disorderly conduct can also be labeled in other terms, such as a breach of the peace or disturbing the peace. In essence, it’s any behavior that can cause alarm, annoyance or anger in other people or lead to an increased likelihood of unlawful activity engagement. In California, specifically, the following are ways to get charged […]

COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it for most Americans. For many Californians, the changes were sudden and unexpected. It felt as if, almost overnight, all schools, many workplaces and daycares, and even more businesses were forced to close their doors in order to protect public safety and help to prevent the spread of the virus. That created a landslide of economic, financial, and personal side effects and consequences for society.  The Effects […]

California Penal Code (PC) 602 is a California law covering the offense of criminal trespass. Per 602 PC, a person generally commits criminal trespassing when they: Enter (or remain on) another’s property; and Do not have permission or a right to do so. California’s criminal trespass law is very broad in scope, and the statute outlines dozens of specific scenarios and situations which can led to a trespass charge. However, some of the most common examples […]

California, like all other states, requires anyone behind the wheel of a motor vehicle to be properly licensed and in good standing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Should you run afoul of the state’s traffic laws, commit a certain crime, or engage in other specific punishable conduct, the DMV has the authority to suspend or revoke your driver’s license, a penalty that can have major implications for the many people Southern California who […]

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious criminal offense in California punishable by a range of steep and far-reaching penalties. While those penalties can be severe even in cases where drivers are charged with misdemeanors, drivers may face various enhancements and additional penalties when there are aggravating circumstances or felony charges involved. Because the classification of a DUI as a misdemeanor or felony can substantially alter the scope of a case, the penalties a […]

Under California Vehicle Code 23152, you can be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) if the law enforcement officer making the traffic stop believes that you were driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages and/or drugs. Immediately after being arrested for a DUI, the arresting officer will forward a copy of the completed notice of revocation or suspension of your license to the DMV along with a sworn report of the […]

Under California Law, criminal possession of drugs is broken down into two different categories, simple possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell. There could be additional penalties depending on the substance in question – the California Health and Safety Code has additional laws that cover methamphetamine, PCP, and marijuana. Proposition 47 After Proposition 47 passed in 2014, California restructured how it sentences people in possession of drugs […]

Under California law, some crimes can be classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. These crimes, also known as wobblers, can be declared a misdemeanor by the judge under certain circumstances. A considerable number of crimes are considered wobblers in California, and an experienced attorney can help you argue your case to the judge. California Penal Code 17b states that, When a crime is punishable, in the discretion of the court, either by imprisonment in the state prison […]

Under California law, committing domestic battery can result in a fine of up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year. If that person is granted probation or their sentence is suspended, then they will be required to participate in and complete a batterer’s treatment program or court designated appropriate counseling program for no less than one year. In order to be considered domestic battery in California, the victim must […]

Under California law, engaging in sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 18 is against the law. The only exception is if the underage person is married to the person they had sex with – California is one of the few states in the country without a minimum age for marriage. However, someone younger than the age of consent, 18, must obtain both a court order and parental consent before the marriage can be […]

Under California law, people convicted of a crime may have the option of reopening their criminal proceedings to reverse the conviction to a dismissal in certain circumstances. Doing so will allow the person to truthfully state that they have not been convicted of a crime, except in some cases, like when applying for certain jobs. Expungement vs. Sealing True expungement is not an option under California law – people convicted of a crime in the […]

Under California law, there are four different forms of correctional supervision someone charged with a crime could face, parole, jail, prison, and probation. When a judge is determining how to sentence someone convicted of a crime, they will take input from the probation department, the defendant’s attorney, and the district attorney. Since the California Community Corrections Performance Incentives Act was passed in 2009, county probation departments have been encouraged to keep people under community supervision […]