Does A Misdemeanor Require A Lawyer Many people assume that misdemeanor crimes are trivial and don’t require the assistance of an attorney. While it is true that misdemeanor crimes result in less penalties than felonies if you are convicted, these crimes are still life changing. The short answer is yes, you absolutely still need a lawyer to represent you after an arrest for a misdemeanor crime. Jail Time While some misdemeanors won’t result in jail time, some will. No matter how short the sentence, or even if you end up being ordered to jail only on the weekends, your life will still be significantly changed by incarceration. A lawyer may be able to help you avoid incarceration at all, whereas facing charges without a lawyer gives you a higher chance of incurring…Read More
The Effects Of Criminal Justice Reform In California Across 2010 to 2016, crime in Los Angeles county, including both violent and property crime, increased by 5% even as the rest of the state experienced a downturn in crime, according to a recent report from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. They explored city crime trends throughout California during a period that is often referred to as an era for justice reform. During this period, court mandates, voter-approved initiatives and legislation encouraged major change in the California justice system. One such example is Proposition 47, one that downgraded numerous theft and drug crimes to misdemeanors and allowed defendants to renegotiate punishments, in addition to Proposition 57, which had a primary purpose of focusing on rehabilitation while shrinking the state’s prison population. Advocates…Read More
Police Brutality Allegations In California It might go by like a blur- suddenly, you’re being handcuffed and shipping off to the police station. You’re not sure how things escalated or why you’re being charged, but you know things just got quite serious. This is a common occurrence for someone who has been arrested. Respecting Your Rights Even when you are being accused of committing a crime, it is important for the police to respect your rights. When the police overstep the bounds of the law and violate your constitutional rights or engage in unnecessary physical violence, you may be eligible to pursue a claim of police brutality or police misconduct. Officers’ actions are typically protected from liability under a general doctrine of governmental immunity, which means that the government cannot be sued…Read More
