Posted by Christopher Martens | Apr 07, 2016 |
California is a state with a high number of residents without a full United States citizenship status. Even without full citizen status, those living in California are subject to California law. This means they can be charged and convicted of a crime like any other citizen. But California residen...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Apr 05, 2016 |
Domestic violence is unique in that both the victim and the district attorney can take legal action against the abuser. Not all instances of domestic violence will result in a criminal charge. Sometimes, less severe cases of domestic abuse result in a domestic violence restraining order and nothi...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Apr 01, 2016 |
Knowing what your rights are during a DUI arrest, or any arrest for that matter, can help you make the right decisions to protect your interests. Even knowing your rights after the fact can help you built a strong defense in court. Ideally, the arresting officer would inform you of your rights, b...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 30, 2016 |
California is a diverse state that treats traditional and nontraditional families equally. Because of this, you do not need to be in a married partnership to commit domestic violence. Under California law, domestic violence is not limited to married spouses. It can also occur between two people w...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 28, 2016 |
When you are pulled over on suspicion of a DUI, you may be put through a variety of tests. The officer will use these tests to assess your level of intoxication so they can make a decision on whether or not they have sufficient probable cause to arrest you. One of the first steps in the DUI arres...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 24, 2016 |
Having your criminal record expunged can restore your dignity and your confidence, especially when it comes to job hunting. No one should have to let a criminal record prevent him or her from finding a job or housing. Unfortunately, even one criminal conviction can cause you to lose your job or m...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 22, 2016 |
When police are on patrol, there are a number of signs they will be looking for to identify drunk drivers. These are sometimes called signs of impairment and can be exhibited in drivers in moving vehicles as well as while they are stopped. When driving, these signs of impairment can include swerv...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 18, 2016 |
Having a criminal record can burden you with limitations, restrictions, and stigma. It can prevent you from holding certain positions or living in certain areas. Unfortunately, a criminal conviction can stay on your record long after you've fulfilled your sentencing requirements and returned to a...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 16, 2016 |
Many people may think that there must be hard physical evidence of abuse in order for someone to be convicted of a domestic violence offense. If this were the case, many people would get away with abusive behavior with no ramifications. Under California law, however, domestic violence goes far be...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 14, 2016 |
The juvenile justice system is little understood. The juvenile justice system is not exactly the same as the criminal justice system, but they work together to rehabilitate youths who have broken the law. Unlike popular belief, your juvenile record is not destroyed once you turn 18. In fact, it i...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 11, 2016 |
In response to an increase in public concerns over rising DUI rates, California DMV rules on DUI offenses and license suspensions were revised in 2010. With these revisions, the ignition interlock device was added as a requirement for some offenders. As a result, those who are convicted of a DUI ...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 10, 2016 |
Many people are not fully aware of the rights they have as citizens being arrested or facing criminal charges. Most people think they have a right to an attorney, but do not know when, where, and how they can invoke that right. If you've never been arrested, this is an understandable area of conf...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 08, 2016 |
Many people think of disturbing the peace as something that happens in a public setting, generally involving someone who is belligerent or a group of people who are unruly, such as protesters or rioters. By definition, it is considered a crime against the public peace. Common examples of disturbi...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 04, 2016 |
Many Californians who get a DUI will be ordered to install an Ignition Interlock Device in any vehicle they drive or own, except for employer-owned vehicles. Ignition Interlock Devices, or IIDs, are mandatory for those with first-time DUI convictions in Alameda, Sacramento, Los Angeles, or Tulare...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Mar 02, 2016 |
Domestic violence is often discussed in the media as if it were a single criminal act. In reality, domestic violence is just the term we use when discussing violence in domestic situations. The violence itself can come in many forms. Harassment is one form of violence that can fall into the categ...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Feb 29, 2016 |
Getting a DUI results in many consequences that will affect your life immediately and in the future. Some of your rights and privileges may be taken away and without a doubt this will involve your driving privileges.
Perhaps one of the hardest components of the sentencing for a California DUI is ...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Feb 25, 2016 |
Domestic abuse is a term many of us are familiar with. Domestic abuse is discussed in the media at length and is the focus of many public service announcements. Domestic abuse offenses affect many Californians every year, but few people fully understand what a domestic abuse crime is and what pen...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Feb 04, 2016 |
Domestic violence is a complex problem, one that reaches many different families, traditional and non-traditional. The common depiction of domestic violence is a husband abusing his wife, however, today domestic violence can affect unmarried couples and others in a variety of different domestic s...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Feb 02, 2016 |
California has over 38 million residents that are subject to state law. The California criminal justice system is charged with prosecuting criminals and thus protecting these 38 million people; a large feat indeed. Unfortunately, in such a populous state, some people are misidentified or falsely ...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Jan 29, 2016 |
In California, DUIs come at a great cost to the community at large. Because of this high cost, DUI reduction strategies range from dedicated DUI patrol to sobriety checkpoints. In most instances, California law enforcement officers must have probable cause to pull you over as a driver. Probable c...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Jan 27, 2016 |
The California criminal justice system is tasked with prosecuting crimes and protecting California's citizens. You may think that this system has the power to prosecute and convict criminals at any point. In reality, criminal cases, as well as civil, have what is called a statute of limitations. ...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Jan 25, 2016 |
Under California law, it is illegal to drive while under the influence of alcohol, under any circumstances. Many people may think California's DUI laws only apply when you are driving on public California roads and highways. In reality, California DUI laws extend to driving any vehicle anywhere, ...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Jan 21, 2016 |
Domestic violence affects millions of Californians statewide. Many cases go undiscovered and thus unprosecuted, leaving victims unprotected. Domestic violence crimes are particularly prevalent in California, and law enforcement takes prosecuting the perpetrators of these crimes very seriously. Do...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Jan 19, 2016 |
US citizens have a constitutional right to a certain level of reasonable privacy. The government cannot search your person or your property without good cause. There are laws to protect that privacy, but there are also laws that allow law enforcement officers to encroach upon your privacy in cert...
Posted by Christopher Martens | Jan 15, 2016 |
When it comes to California DUI laws, there are varying levels of tolerance with which California views drinking and driving. It is not illegal in and of itself to drive with alcohol in your system, so it can be said that there is a certain amount of tolerance towards driving after having been dr...