You do not have to stay and talk to the police just because they’d like to talk to you. As a citizen, you often have the right to simply go about your business. The United States is not intended to be a police state where officers can just stop people on a whim.  If...

Confusion about what constitutes assault can lead to people making bad legal decisions. Especially when it comes to domestic assault or domestic violence allegations, there is a lot of misinformation that can trick people. For example, people might think that they...

If the police arrest you, they must read you your Miranda rights before questioning you. Yet, even before that, you can get yourself in trouble if you say too much. What are the Miranda rights? This is what the questioning officers must tell you before they start: You...

In most situations, the strength of the evidence in a California criminal case will determine its outcome. Therefore, it isn't uncommon for a defense attorney to make an effort to suppress evidence in order to weaken the case against his or her client. Let's take a...

If you look at Hollywood movies and television shows, it seems that two pieces of evidence tend to always be the final nail in the coffin for the accused. These include fingerprints and dental marks. However, unlike fingerprints, there is very little confidence in...

If you're arrested for drug possession in California, your behavior could determine the outcome of your court case. Many people make costly mistakes because they don't know what to expect from an arrest. Here's a rundown of what occurs when you're arrested for...

Millions of people go through California’s penal system every year, and many of them find they’re still paying for their crimes long after they did their time. Their criminal records stop them from getting jobs, renting apartments, getting professional licenses and...

In cases in which people commit a crime in the presence of an undercover cop, their defense could include police entrapment. This defense can apply in courts everywhere from California to Florida, and it involves claiming that the police officer set up the person to...

If you are taken into custody in California, you must be notified of your right to remain silent. However, if you fail to invoke your right to do so, anything that you say may be used as evidence in court. Let's take a look at what you must do to invoke your right not...