Falsely reporting a crime is already illegal, but given that police encounters with some groups, particularly persons of color, are more likely to end in violence, should it be a hate crime for someone to make a racist 9-11 call? This could be the case in New York if a proposed law is passed and […]
Defending Against Crimes Related to the Coronavirus in San Diego
In our continuing coverage of the coronavirus outbreak, we’ve talked about a number of crimes related to the coronavirus, including intentionally infecting others with a disease, breaking quarantine, looting and fraud. But as people have become increasingly worried about the risk of infection, we’re seeing new and sometimes unexpected crimes being committed as a result […]
What to Know About Fighting Hate Crime Accusations In California
Being victimized by a crime is always difficult, but when the only reason a person was targeted was purely because of their particular race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or similar characteristic, the emotional impact can be devastating. That’s why California has enacted hate crimes legislation to punish those who commit crimes not due to desperation […]
Hate Crimes and Firearms Restrictions in California
California already had a number of laws on the books that restrict a person’s ability to possess a firearm based on their criminal record. Specifically, any felony or any act of domestic violence is enough to result in a loss of gun ownership rights. Now the legislature has added an additional crime to that list […]