Anyone who is serving a long prison sentence may eventually petition the parole board for early release. There are things that can be done in advance of this important hearing starting right at sentencing so that as the parole hearing date nears, one will have more confidence in the possibilities.…
San Diego Criminal Lawyers Blog
Is a Polygraph a Good Idea?
You are all about demonstrating your innocence, so when law enforcement asks you to take a polygraph test, it seems logical to comply. You have nothing to hide, after all. You couldn’t be more mistaken! There are lots of reasons to steer clear of lie detector tests. Just Say No…
Know the Terminology in an Investigation
Following the horrific Brown University shooting spree, police quickly released photos of an individual they called a person of interest. Tips from the public led to a quick apprehension, and that man was held and released in a matter of hours. Just four days later, another video was released, with…
Getting into the Minds of the Jury
If your future is in the hands of a jury, you are undoubtedly wondering what jurors think as evidence and witnesses are offered up in a trial. How supportive are they of a defense attorney’s argument? How influential is a specific piece of evidence? It is a multifaceted and ever-changing…
Holiday Crime Spike
The holiday season typically sees a rash of certain types of crime. That’s partly because, while many people are busy shopping or attending holiday parties with friends, colleagues, and family, there are those among us who have something a little less festive on their minds. If you have been charged…
AI Hallucinations and the Law
When prosecutors demanded that a California man who faced illegal gun possession charges be held without bail, the man’s defense team argued that the charges simply did not warrant such a harsh response. Prosecutors had pages and pages of explanations to support their argument. Unfortunately, for them, their extensive documentation…
Federal Prosecutorial Discretion
Why do the feds pursue some cases and let others go? The Take Care Clause from Article II of the United States Constitution, as the Department of Justice (DOJ) gives prosecutors discretion when it comes to weighing whether to pursue a case. The provision necessitates that the president take care…
Illegal Sports Betting
Turn on the news and you will find all kinds of sports betting fiascos, driven by a number of high-profile scandals that have recently hit the headlines: ESPN reports that the Lucchese crime family was the mastermind in a network of bookmakers nationwide who facilitated roughly $2 million in illegal…
Understanding Interstate Extradition
The U.S. Constitution provides that when someone is suspected or has been convicted of committing a crime in another state, that person can be surrendered from their current state residence to the state where the alleged crime took place in order that the suspect stand trial and/or serve a sentence…
Charged with Battery Against a Police Officer?
Let’s say you were alarmed when police approached you unexpectedly. As they attempted to arrest you, in your confusion, you reacted based on your instinct to try to get away. In hindsight, you recognize that you made some decisions that were less than perfect, but that awareness is not going…