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The police need probable cause to arrest you for Driving Under the Influence. Generally speaking, “probable cause for arrest exists if facts known to the arresting officer would lead a person of ordinary care and prudence to believe and conscientiously entertain an honest and strong suspicion that the person is guilty of a crime.”

If you’re facing a criminal trial, you must know what to expect from beginning to end. This includes the pretrial process, including your arraignment, hearing, discovery process, and what to expect when the actual trial is underway.

Facing a criminal trial can be extremely stressful. Many defendants enter these criminal proceedings without a complete understanding of the process, which can make them feel powerless and like they’re not in control of their future.

Self-defense is a common defense strategy people use when charged with a crime that involves causing some form of physical violence. However, it is important to understand the rules on self-defense in California before claiming that you used physical force to protect yourself from imminent harm.

Shoplifting can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony in California, depending on the value of the property allegedly stolen. In either case, it is not a conviction you want to have on your record for the rest of your life.

The time is long past when violence occurring between spouses or family members behind closed doors was a private matter. The pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. In fact, the penalties for a domestic assault conviction may be more severe than a similar assault on someone who is not related to you, or who does not share an intimate relationship with you.

Charges for domestic violence are handled more aggressively and often have more severe penalties than the same acts perpetrated against people you don’t have some sort of intimate or household relationship with.

In California, many of us consider our driver’s licenses to be absolutely essential. They give us freedom of movement and help us carry out responsibilities, such as getting to and from work and school, or transporting our children. If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in California, you might wonder if you’ll lose your license.

We’ve just finished the year-end holiday season when spirits can be high in more ways than one. It’s not unusual for police to take extra steps during holidays of any type to look out for drivers operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

If you’ve been arrested for drunk driving, you can and should fight the charges. Being pulled over and charged with a DUI can be a harrowing experience, but just because you were charged doesn’t mean you’ll be convicted.