If you have been convicted of a felony or certain sex offenses, a California certificate of rehabilitation might be beneficial in helping you move past the conviction so you can get on with your life. Aside from making it easier for you to apply for jobs and professional licenses, getting a certificate of rehabilitation serves […]
Yes, Forensic Hypnosis is Real, It’s Also Disturbingly Unreliable
One of the problems with forensic science is that something can seem scientifically sound and still be totally subjective. In fact, recent research has even raised questions about the legitimacy of blood splatter analysis and the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, which is one of the standard field sobriety tests used to establish whether someone has […]
When to Call a Criminal Defense Lawyer
You’ve probably heard countless criminal defense attorneys say that people should “call immediately.” But it’s one thing to say people should call immediately and another for them to be able to start dialing a phone while a police officer slaps handcuffs around their wrist. So when should you (or can you) call a defense lawyer […]
California May Enact a Law to Enable Police Decertification
Police have far greater authority than just about anyone else in our society. They are given the right to detain, search and arrest people. They are even permitted to use deadly force in certain situations. As such, it seems reasonable to hold officers of the law to a higher standard than the average civilian. After […]
Prosecutors Can’t Compare a Defendant to a Homicidal Maniac
Prosecutors are limited by ethical and legal standards. But the problem with many ethical and legal standards (these included) is that the boundaries are not set in stone and vary on a case by case basis. This was most certainly the problem when prosecutors decided to compare an alleged bank robber to Jack Torrance of […]
Peter Liss Earns Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Award
There are many awards and titles an attorney can earn, but one of the most celebrated is the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, which Peter M. Liss proudly received in early January of 2021. Only 10 percent of attorneys ever achieve this prestigious rating that signifies a lawyer executes the highest possible level of […]
Pregnancy and Birth in California Jails and Prisons
Just because a woman is convicted of a crime doesn’t mean her reproductive system suddenly shuts down. And in fact, many women end up behind bars while pregnant. What happens next will vary depending on the specific circumstances and wishes of the mother-to-be, but one thing that’s always true is that California provides a much […]
Could AB-89 Reduce Excessive Force by Police Officers?
Just about every adult agrees that with age comes wisdom, patience and experience. And one state legislator believes these three qualities might just make the difference when it comes to whether or not a police officer makes the right or wrong call when deciding if deadly force is actually justified in a given situation. That’s […]
Lying About Having Coronavirus is a Crime in California
While we’ve already covered the fact that it’s a crime to knowingly expose someone to the coronavirus, it’s worth mentioning that doing the opposite can also get you in trouble with the law. That is, claiming to be infected with Covid-19 when you’re actually not can result in criminal charges depending on the situation. In […]
San Diego Police Officers Who Have a History of Civil Rights Violations
San Diego police were recently caught exploiting a 102 year old rule against sedition to censor free speech, issuing tickets to people who were cursing in their presence. While the city council repealed the sedition law back in September, The Voice of San Diego has found more disturbing information about the police officers who issued […]