Imagine sitting comfortably in your home, enjoying your favorite television show or eating a meal. If someone barged in and started opening your mail, looking through your drawers, and examining your backpack, purse, or briefcase, you’d probably be concerned. But if a police officer comes to your door with a […]
In California, one out of every seven adults is living with a mental illness. Over the years, advances in treatments and decreased social stigma around mental health have made diagnosing and treating mental illnesses much easier. However, mental illnesses can still create issues in the criminal justice system. This article […]
All crimes are not created equal. They are clearly not the same. However, California law distinguishes certain felonies from others. For example, in our state, non-violent felonies are eligible for sentence reductions, earlier parole, and programs like diversion. Violent felonies are not. Every year, California passes new criminal laws. Many […]
In many courtroom-based movies and television shows, there is a scene where the prosecutor says something along the lines of, “We can’t find the body. Without it, we’ll have to drop the charges.” This reasoning might make for good drama, but it’s far from reality. In real life, the rules […]
Most people know that probation and parole both have something to do with criminal justice. But what is probation? What is parole? Are probation and parole the same thing? If they’re not, what are the differences? This article defines probation and parole. It also details the similarities and differences between […]