California generally has more lenient penalties for drug possession compared to many other states. Most possession offenses in California are treated as misdemeanors, especially for first-time offenders, and often involve probation, fines and mandatory drug counseling...
Police officers have to try to keep the roadways safe, which can sometimes mean pulling over a vehicle if they think that a driver is impaired. It’s critical to know that officers can’t do this unless they have reasonable suspicion, which requires them to see...
Police officers have an interest in arresting people and gathering evidence that allows the state to prosecute their alleged wrongdoing. In some cases, they may even aggressively pursue evidence against those who may not have technically broken the law. Once police...
Driving under the influence (DUI) charges in California can lead to numerous criminal consequences. The courts can suspend someone's driver's license, order them to submit to probation, require them to pay large fines and incarcerate them. Frequently, those accused of...
Professionals in a variety of different industries could find themselves accused of white-collar criminal offenses. Fraud, embezzlement and money laundering are among the more common financial crimes prosecuted in California. There are many different kinds of fraud,...
Non-citizens residing in the United States are expected to follow the laws of this country. If they fail to do so and are arrested, they may face deportation if they’re convicted of certain crimes. It’s always best to obey the law, but there are times when a person...
People often assume that the California criminal justice system employs a lenient approach to issues related to substance abuse. As a leader in drug law reform, California has developed a reputation for being more tolerant of infractions involving controlled...
A standardized field sobriety test (SFST) involves a series of assessments used by law enforcement officers to determine if a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. These tasks are designed to provide objective evidence for officers to establish probable cause for...
Those preparing to defend against criminal charges in California often need to consider many different strategies. Proving that someone has an alibi at the time of a specific criminal incident is one potential strategy. Raising questions about the possibility that...
Many people living in California have felt fear when blue and red lights show up in their rearview mirrors, especially drivers who've had a drink or two. Besides the stress of dealing with the police, law enforcement may ask you to perform field sobriety tests. One of...