If you have been arrested for a felony, you are doubtlessly feeling frightened. What is in the cards for you? Should you accommodate police requests for information to demonstrate your innocence? Should you do anything and everything to get out of custody? No, and no! If you are looking at felony charges, your initial decisions […]
Search Results for: constitutional
A Speedy Trial?
We hear about the right to a speedy trial—a constitutional guarantee provided by the Sixth Amendment. Nevertheless, we hear about people who are behind bars awaiting trial all the time, which makes one wonder, what does the term “speedy” really mean in this context? And why are nearly 45,000 people sitting in county jails across […]
Reverse Warrants
We all know that a warrant has many purposes: a search warrant entitles law enforcement to search specific persons or property; an arrest warrant identifies someone who will be going to jail. But what is a reverse warrant, and how does it impact you? The fact of the matter is these reverse warrants literally scoop […]
Can We Trust Black Box Technologies in Criminal Prosecutions?
Law enforcement relies on artificial intelligence (AI) in making determinations related to investigating, charging, sentencing, and even releasing offenders across the country. More and more, AI algorithms are incredibly complex and their pathways are secretive. That has led to the use of opaque technologies, otherwise known as black boxes. What are We Talking About? In […]
Can You Get a Better Deal by Turning State’s Evidence?
We see in movies, and even in the news, stories of suspects “flipping” on one another. What does it really mean? Generally speaking, it is a matter of sharing evidence that a prosecutor values in exchange for benefits to one’s own legal situation. The prosecutor may have bigger fish to fry and be content with […]
Behind Bars: Book Bans
When author Silja Talvi approached Lou Johnson about sharing her experiences behind bars, Johnson was happy to participate. Talvi, an investigative journalist by profession, was writing a book about incarcerated women, and wanted them to tell their stories in order to bring the abuse and trauma that was so common to women in the prison […]
A Motion to Suppress in Criminal Court
We all know that various kinds of evidence is important to the outcome of a criminal trial. Whether you are talking about witness testimony, documents, or physical evidence, it all adds up to a verdict in the end. But what if there are legal issues with the way the evidence was obtained? That is when […]
Why Should an Innocent Person Get a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
It can be incredibly stressful and scary to be put under arrest for a crime. But, when you did not commit the crime that you have been arrested for, you may feel even more uneasy, frightened, and worried about how things will pan out. And while the eyes of the criminal justice system in the […]
Why Self-Representation in a Criminal Case is Unwise
If you were arrested in California for a crime, connect with an attorney to protect your rights and your freedoms right away. Depending on what crime you allegedly committed and the details surrounding the incident, it is possible that you will spend many years in prison and have to pay high fines if you are […]
California District Attorneys Clash Over Criminal Justice Reforms
District Attorneys in Sacramento, Fresno, Kern, and San Diego counties have voiced their displeasure with Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon’s actions on criminal justice reform. Directives that DA Gascon has put forth include getting rid of cash bail and banning sentencing enhancements and re-sentencing for individuals who are facing extended time in prison. Lisa […]