Southern California Criminal Lawyer Blog

If you are not a U.S. citizen and have been arrested or charged with a crime in California, your criminal case may involve much more than fines, probation, or possible jail time. Depending on the circumstances, a criminal case can potentially affect your immigration status, green card, visa, naturalization application, or ability to remain in…

Allegations and charges of domestic violence (DV) abuse carry severe and lasting consequences. In California, law enforcement and prosecutors take DV cases very seriously, and an arrest can occur even if the alleged victim does not want to press charges. If you have been accused of domestic violence, it is important to understand how these…

lIn 2025, California continued to expand rehabilitative justice for veterans by broadening important legal protections for military veterans through Senate Bill 1025 (SB 1025), legislation that significantly amended Penal Code section 1001.80 and Welfare and Institutions Code section 8103. The law creates broader opportunities for eligible veterans facing criminal charges to obtain treatment-focused diversion instead…

In the past several years, California has passed sweeping reforms to correct overly harsh sentencing practices. Laws that once led to lengthy, often excessive prison sentences, have been reexamined, and in many cases, rewritten. For people who were sentenced and still serving time under these old laws, the shift in policy has created a real…

When most people think about criminal punishment, they picture jail time, probation, or fines. Yet for those convicted of a sex-related offense in California, the real punishment often begins after the courtroom doors close. The long-term consequences of a sex crime conviction can follow an individual for life, impacting employment, housing, relationships, and even basic…

Being accused of domestic violence in California is a serious matter with potentially life-changing consequences. An accusation alone can affect your reputation, your family relationships, and even your career. California law treats domestic violence cases aggressively, and prosecutors often move forward even if the alleged victim does not want to “press charges.” Therefore, if you…

In 2016, California voters approved Proposition 57, also known as the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act.  The goal was to reduce prison overcrowding and encourage rehabilitation by giving certain inmates more opportunities to earn early release.  If you or a loved one is currently serving time in California, understanding Proposition 57 could be crucial for…

If you’re a noncitizen living in California with a criminal conviction in your past, you may face serious immigration consequences — including deportation. This is especially true now with the Trump administration taking a hardline stance on immigration and aggressively targeting individuals with prior convictions, even for minor offenses. But there’s good news: California law…

In January 2025, the arrest of former Stockton Police Lieutenant Augustin Lorenzo Telly sent shockwaves through both local government and the wider law enforcement community.  After more than two decades in uniform, Telly now finds himself on the other side of the law.  He is facing felony charges including solicitation of assault with a deadly…

In recent years, the California Legislature has been very proactive in introducing significant changes to the state’s sentencing laws in an effort to rectify the devastating results caused by the state’s tough-on-crime policies, which have led to excessively punitive sentences and have had an extremely harmful effect on poor and minority communities. In addition, long…