Criminal Defense - Page 4

When offenders are arrested, they are brought to the police precinct and processed, or “booked.” Booking includes gathering and recording information about the suspect, completing a medical screening, collecting fingerprints, removing certain items from the suspect’s possession, and taking the suspect’s photograph. To protect themselves from self-incrimination, suspects should not provide information about the alleged incident until they have retained legal counsel from a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles....

The state of California follows the Three Strikes Law, and it functions how it sounds: three strikes, and you are out. It is the most unforgiving law in the country and has sent even nonviolent serial offenders to jail for life. People are serving life sentences in California for crimes as minor as shoplifting. If you are facing a conviction under the Three Strikes Law, there may never be a...

California’s “Castle Doctrine” (also known as the “Stand Your Ground” policy) refers to §198.5 of the California Penal Code. Technically, California is not a “Stand Your Ground” state, though its Castle Doctrine is a nearly identical policy. The difference here is that the policy generally protects a person while he is in his home, or “castle,” which extends to his workplace or other real property. Different states have Castle Doctrines...

Pimping and pandering are both criminal offenses related to prostitution. However, there are distinct differences between these two charges. Pimping relates to the collection of money earned by a prostitute while pandering refers to someone who persuades someone to become, or continue working as, a prostitute. There are other crimes related to pimping and pandering as well. If you get charged with any crime concerning aiding in prostitution, contact the...

Facing a criminal charge comes with various hearings and legal procedures you must attend in California. Depending on your crime, there are multiple hearings you will attend, but the one that applies to every criminal case is an arraignment. You will need to attend an arraignment to hear your charges and why you were arrested. In misdemeanor cases, your California criminal defense lawyer from Simmrin Law Group can appear on...

Rules and legal intricacies can affect whether your case is dismissed and if it is with or without prejudice. In general, a dismissal with prejudice means the case is over, and you cannot have it reopened. Conversely, dismissed without prejudice means the prosecutor can refile the case within a specific time frame. You must discuss these possibilities with a California criminal defense lawyer from Simmrin Law Group. What Is Dismissed...

Extortion happens when one person uses threats, fear, or violence to obtain property or money from another individual. Extortion is also known as blackmail. The critical factor in proving extortion is that the alleged victim of the crime does give the money or property over to the defendant. All that is required is a threat of force, but the force does not need to be present. There are several ways...

Whether you are a parent or not, receiving an Amber Alert on your phone makes the hairs on your neck stand up. When that alert goes off, you know someone's child has either gone missing or is in the process of being kidnapped. In some cases, however, the alert is the result of one parent taking their child against custody laws, which is usually not violent. At Simmrin Law Group,...

The criminal statute of limitations for California varies depending on the type of crime, and some crimes, like murder, have no limits. Understanding how these statutes affect you is crucial to defending yourself effectively. California's rules are complicated and detailed, so it is best to have experienced legal help to ensure you are not charged when too much time has passed. When you or a loved one is facing criminal...

If there has ever been a time when police officers had to search your belongings or determine whether you were involved in a crime, then you understand the importance of probable cause. However, for many people who have never had any dealings with criminal proceedings, there is often confusion between probable cause and reasonable suspicion. Understanding the difference between the two can help you avoid being charged for offenses you...