A party commits fraud when they intentionally deceive another to gain a certain benefit illegally or unethically or deny victims a particular right. Fraud involves several legal elements, including hiding or misrepresenting material truths, sometimes resulting in the victim suffering because of s...
Many people get nervous if they see police officers on the street. They may try to avoid contact with those officers, such as turning and walking the other way or turning down the side street. In the past, there have been cases where police officers have seen this activity and detained those indi...
It is certainly possible to accidentally commit a crime. At the same time, ignorance is often not accepted as an excuse for criminal activity. For example, simply explaining to a police officer that you didn't know that what you were doing was illegal will not necessarily get them to refrain from...
For those who serve prison terms, re-offending is very common. In fact, some sources claim that it's something that happens to more than 50% of former prisoners. They're going to re-offend at some point, and many people will be re-arrested. But why does this happen? After all, those who defend th...
Vehicle insurance premiums are one of the most significant costs of driving. They can be so prohibitive that some people avoid paying them altogether – which is a terrible idea and illegal. If you want to keep your premiums as low as possible, you must ensure you don't do anything that could caus...
When the police question you about a crime, there's a good chance it's because they think you did it. Whether you did or not, it can be a scary situation to be in. Merely being there makes it more likely you are charged with the crime. One of the reasons for this is that you are more likely to ei...
A drug possession charge carries a heavy burden on those convicted. Criminals may lose employment, housing and education opportunities if they are caught with an illicit substance. A conviction can also lead to several hundred to thousands of dollars in fines and several years behind bars. The se...
Re-offending is when someone is arrested on criminal charges, they serve their sentence, and then they break the law again after they get out of jail. For instance, someone who is arrested for selling drugs spends a year behind bars, gets out, and begins selling drugs again six months later. Clea...
The expungement process has long been complicated in California. In some ways, you can't get a true expungement, like you would in other states – or, at least, you have not been able to in the past. For instance, if the conviction came with a prison sentence, expungement has traditionally been pr...
Finding yourself in a DUI stop can be nerve-wracking, regardless of whether it is your first or third time seeing the flashing lights of a police car signaling you to pull over. A drunk driving conviction can have a lasting effect on your life, which is why it is crucial to be aware of the do's a...
A conviction for driving under the influence brings profound consequences that extend well beyond the immediate legal penalties. This is especially true for drivers in California, a state that implements some of the strictest laws in the United States. A DUI conviction can touch nearly every aspe...
Crime rates in California show some interesting trends. For one thing, a recent study found a decline in homicides. They had fallen by about 6.1% when analyzing the data from 2022. For the two years prior to this, homicides had been going up, so researchers were encouraged by this change in trend...
Driving under the influence is a serious offense with sweeping consequences that can significantly impact your life. The severity of this charge underscores the importance of understanding your rights and your options for mounting a criminal defense if you find yourself facing drunk driving alleg...
When the police dust for fingerprints, they are doing so because these fingerprints can then be connected to the individual accused of the crime. If the police have arrested a suspect and taken their fingerprints, for instance, and those fingerprints match the ones found at the scene, this is ver...
The F-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa specifically designed for those pursuing academic, language or vocational programs. This visa permits individuals from all over the globe to study at any U.S. college or university. As international students, they must follow certain rules and guidelines during...
For an action to be legally justifiable, you or whoever is doing the action should be able to support or defend it as lawful within the framework of the legal system. When officers are too determined to catch a suspected perpetrator, it can lead them to abuse the very laws they swore to uphold. T...
Drivers who are arrested on suspicion of drunk driving may be asked to do a chemical sobriety test. Chemical sobriety tests evaluate a driver's blood alcohol content (BAC). BAC is the amount of alcohol that may be found in the body. If a driver exceeds the legal BAC limit, they may be violating t...
Much of the time, when a police officer pulls someone over for speeding, they have already used a radar gun to detect that person's speed. For instance, police officers will park on the side of the interstate and use radar to track all of the vehicles that go by. They only pull someone over when ...
In California, all drivers are required to have insurance. This includes at least $15,000 for injury or death to one person, $30,000 for injury or death to more than one person and $5,000 for property damage. If you're involved in an accident, this insurance allows you to file a claim with insura...
As driverless cars start filling California streets, related collisions also increase. Although a study suggests that these autonomous vehicles pose less risk to pedestrians and motorists, a collision may still inflict serious harm. In California, people who get hurt in car accidents may file a p...
The justice system is not perfect. However, it is set up to err on the side of allowing guilty parties to go free to avoid convicting innocent individuals. This is why criminal cases have such a high standard of proof. Guilt has to be established beyond a reasonable doubt so that innocent people ...
Much like in the physical world, we must respect each other's boundaries in the digital landscape. Passwords and two-factor authentication serve as a layer of protection for your virtual valuables. Devices and online accounts hold many crucial details, from financial transactions to intimate conv...
Immigrants in the country often face the possibility of deportation under specific circumstances, primarily when they commit any misconduct or offenses against the law. However, the likeliness of becoming deportable may only increase for crimes involving moral turpitude (CIMT). In some instances,...
Facing the effects of a truck accident in California can be overwhelming. In time, the severity of your injuries might become more apparent, especially considering the large size of the vehicle involved in the accident. Both the physical damage to you and your car can lead to legal complexities. ...
There is some evidence that age itself may be tied to arrest rates. For instance, some studies have found that the arrest rates are higher for those who are 26 years old and below. Older Americans see a lower arrest rate, suggesting that youth is somehow connected to criminal activity. But why do...