All Americans are protected against unreasonable search and seizure thanks to the Fourth Amendment, but defining what qualifies as unreasonable is a complex process. That’s where the plain view doctrine comes in -it states that police can search your home or vehicle without a warrant if they see evidence of a crime in plain sight. […]
Patient and Physician Confidentiality in the Criminal Courts
There are many relationships given special confidentiality protections in the courts: lawyer/client, therapist/patient, spousal, priest/confessor and doctor/patient. Like all of these protected communications, there are many rules that cover how physician confidentiality works when it comes to the criminal courts, including the nature of the information and how it will be used. Not Everything You […]
Police Can Legally Lie to Suspects in Vista; Here are the 6 Most Common
Most people assume that because police are charged with upholding the law that they wouldn’t lie to perform their duties. This is a very problematic assumption because it’s simply not true. Law enforcement agents can legally lie to suspects (and often do) to get suspects to confess or otherwise get them to do what they […]
Exotic Animals That Are Illegal to Have as Pets in California
In other states like Nevada or Oklahoma, owning an animal such as a tiger may not be a wise choice, but it’s perfectly legal. But California takes the protection of its native wildlife very seriously, which is why owning exotic pets is largely against the law, whether the animal in question is as large and […]
Bank Error in Your Favor? Monopoly’s Rules Could Leave You Busted
Monopoly may have introduced most of us to the idea of a “bank error in your favor,” but while it is an unexpectedly beneficial windfall in the board game, in real life, using this money could leave you facing criminal charges. If you find an unexpected credit on your bank statement, the best thing you […]
What Happens to the Passengers in a DUI in Vista?
Many people pulled over for drunk driving aren’t alone in the car. While most people aren’t surprised to learn that a driver can face additional charges if the passengers are minors, they are often surprised to discover that adult passengers of a drunk driver in Vista can sometimes complicate DUI arrest investigations and may even […]
How Plants Can “Testify” In Criminal Investigations and Trials
Plants might not be able to talk, but they may be able to say quite a bit when it comes to a criminal investigation. This is all thanks to a science called forensic botany, which may not be widely known, but can be incredibly useful in helping to identify a suspect. But just like all […]
What Are the Immigration Consequences for a California DUI?
For non-citizens, criminal charges carry additional stress because the defendant will often stress about whether or not a conviction will affect his or her immigration status. In fact, the first question non-citizens typically ask their DUI attorney is “will this subject me to deportation?” The good news is that generally, a simple drunk driving conviction […]
A Definition of Juror Misconduct Along With a Few Examples
The American criminal justice system is based upon the ability of a defendant to present his case before an unbiased jury of his peers. But jury misconduct may occur if a juror fails to follow the law or a judge’s instructions. While these acts could negatively affect a defendant’s right to a fair trial, the […]
How is Sentencing Determined by Judges in Vista, California Courts?
State and local law sets out specific punishments for each type of crime, but ultimately, the judge still does decide the final sentence given to a defendant. After a defendant is found guilty of a crime, they go through a sentencing hearing where they will learn the punishment they will serve for the crime they […]
