In 1994, through Proposition 184, California enacted the unduly harsh Three Strikes law, which was later codified by Penal Code 667. Under the Three Strikes law, a so-called repeat offender with one or more prior violent and/or serious felonies, would receive a harsher prison sentence for a subsequent qualifying felony conviction, with a defendant with…
Continue reading ›In the last few years, California’s leaders have finally put the effort to improve the State’s criminal justice system and to course-correct its policies. One of the main principles of the criminal justice system is that the punishment has to fit the crime. However, during the 1990s, the California legislature actively pursued tough on crime…
Continue reading ›Thousands of people in California have been serving unjustly long sentences because they have been convicted of murder, manslaughter, or attempted murder, even though they never killed, attempted to kill, or intended for a person to die. Until January 2019, that was the reality for countless of inmates who had been convicted of murder under…
Continue reading ›On January 1, 2018, SB 180 went into effect and repealed the prior California law, which required a sentencing court to impose a 3-year enhancement for every prior conviction for controlled substance crimes. The only exception left was in instances where the prior convictions were for crimes that involve the use of a minor in…
Continue reading ›The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, and within the US, California hosts the second largest prison population behind Texas. Mass incarceration has led to overcrowding, which in turn has resulted in increased health risks and decreased psychological welfare of inmates. In recent years, California’s legislature has worked hard to correct…
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The “DREAM Act,” first introduced into Congress in 2001, was intended to grant United States citizenship to immigrant children at risk of deportation. The Act stands for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, and the children it would protect are often called “Dreamers.” The idea behind “Dreamers” is based on the “American dream.” By…
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If you plan to visit the United States but do not intend to live within the county permanently, you will still need documentation authorizing your presence in the country. A visa is a type of authorization that grants nonimmigrant travelers the ability to remain in California and the United States for a brief period. Visas…
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If you plan to visit the United States but do not intend to live within the county permanently, you will still need documentation authorizing your presence in the country. A visa is a type of authorization that grants nonimmigrant travelers the ability to remain in the United States for a brief period. Visas do not…
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On February 24, 2022, Russia declared an invasion of Ukraine, leading many leaders worldwide to welcome Ukrainians into their countries. The United States has several options available for Ukrainians who currently live in the United States and want to avoid returning to Ukraine. They include Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”); Asylum; Petitions for eligible relatives; and…
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If you are living in California on a visa, as a permanent resident, or you are undocumented, a criminal charge or conviction can have severe consequences on your immigration status. However, some crimes minimally impact immigration status. Suppose you have been charged with a crime in California. In that case, it is essential to speak…
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