California uses a number of specific charges to prosecute acts of bribery, including:
- California Penal Code Section 67 & 68: Bribery Of Or By An Executive Officer Or Public Employee
- California Penal Code Section 85 & 86: Bribery Of Or By Legislators
- California Penal Code Section 137 & 138: Bribery of Witnesses
- California Penal Code Section 165: Bribery of Supervisors and Public Corporations
Individuals can also face charges for California Penal Code Section 92 & 93: Bribery Of Judges And Jurors. Get specific information about the definition and penalties associated with PC 92 and 93 charges right here from the professionals at the Simmrin Law Group.
Defining the Bribery of Judges and Jurors
Bribery occurs anytime someone tries to influence another person by offering them something of value or money. PC 92 and PC 93 deal specifically with acts of bribery involving:
- Judicial Officers
- Judges
- Jurors
- Referees
- Arbitrators
- Umpires
Individuals can be charged under PC 92 specifically for the act of bribing a judicial officer or juror. An individual must act with corrupt intent to be convicted under PC 92. Note that the court can hand down a bribery conviction even if the bribe is not accepted. Merely the intent to offer a bribe is enough for warrant a conviction in these cases.
Note that Penal Code 93 was created to prosecuted bribery by a judicial officer or juror. This charge is used if any judicial officer, judge, juror, umpire, referee, or arbitrator:
- Asks for Money or an Item of Value
- In Return for an Official Decision
An individual must be trying to unlawfully gain some kind of advantage to be charged under PC 93.
Penalties for the Bribery of Judges and Jurors
The bribery of judges and jurors is usually treated as a felony in the state of California. Individuals who are convicted under PC 92 or 93 may end up spending up to 4 years in a state prison.
An individual who agrees to accept a bribe can also be subjected to fines. Individuals who never actually receive a bribe after soliciting or agreeing to accept one can be fined up to $10,000. If someone receives a bribe, they may be forced to pay restitution of up to twice the amount of the bribe.
Additionally, judicial officers may:
- Lose Their Official Position
- Lose Their Law License
- Lose Additional Professional Licenses
A criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles can help individuals who are facing charges under PC 92 or 93.
Examples of Bribery of Judges and Jurors
Increase your familiarity with PC 92 and 93 charges with these examples:
The police arrest a man for domestic battery. He knows the case against him is strong and he does not want to go to prison, so he decides to offer some of the jurors at his trial significant sums of money to find him not guilty. They decline and report him. He could be charged under PC 92.
A judge is handling sentencing for a case involving money laundering. She knows that the defendants likely have a lot of money from their enterprises, and makes an offer to go lightly on them if they pay her. They agree. If the judge gets caught, she could be charged under PC 93.
Defenses for the Bribery of Judges and Jurors
Building a defense against PC 92 or 93 accusations requires legal skill and experience. A professional criminal defense lawyer may be able to defend a client by arguing that:
Their Client Lacked Intent
Individuals must have a corrupt intent in order to be convicted of bribery of judges or jurors. If you did not intent to personally gain any unlawful benefit, you should not be convicted under PC 92 or 93.
Their Client Was Coerced
Bribery must be done willingly for a PC 92 or 93 conviction to occur. An individual who is forced to hand down a certain judgement through force or fear should not be convicted under PC 93.
Getting professional help right away can increase the odds that an individual will beat accusations of bribery of judges and jurors.
Getting Help Handling Bribery of Judges and Jurors Charges
You do not have to try to stand up to charges under California Penal Code Section 92 & 93: Bribery Of Judges And Jurors on your own. The professionals at the Simmrin Law Group can start going over your case today. Call us at (310) 896-2723 or complete our online contact form.
Speak with a criminal defense lawyer today for a FREE initial case evaluation.