Shows like Lucifer, Psych, Castle and Monk feature contractors hired by the police to help solve crimes, but is what you see on screen realistic? As it turns out, while police consultants are real, criminal attorneys would get most of the evidence the TV consultants uncover thrown out of court. Here’s a breakdown of how […]
The Entrapment Defense Under California Law
One of the most commonly cited legal myths is that if you ask someone if they are a police officer, they have to tell you, or it is entrapment. Not only is this untrue, but it also underscores how little the average person understands about this legal concept. Unfortunately, entrapment is a complex area of […]
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 […]
Police Are Turning to AI Systems to Write Up Reports
Despite what you may see on TV, being a police officer involves more than issuing tickets, making arrests, searching crime scenes, talking to witnesses, and interrogating suspects. One thing they leave out on the procedurals is all the paperwork officers must fill out as part of their jobs. However, a new AI technology called Draft […]
Resisting an Executive Officer in the Performance of Their Duties
Resisting arrest is a crime under 148(a) (PC), but some people go beyond just struggling against an arresting officer and instead attempt to use threats or violence to avoid arrest. When this happens, it is a violation of California Penal Code section 69 (PC), which prohibits preventing an executive officer from the performance of their […]
Can Someone Charged With Domestic Violence Become a Cop?
We’ve previously discussed how a domestic violence charge can prevent someone from joining the armed forces and likely end any military career. When many people find this out, they assume the same would be true for police officers, but in practice, the effects of a domestic violence conviction are somewhat different for those in law […]
Assault and Battery on a Police Officer in California
Police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first responders are a protected group known as “peace officers” under California law. When someone knowingly commits assault or battery against one of these individuals, they can face additional penalties for these crimes under Penal Codes 241(c), 243(c), and 243(b) (PC). There are many ways to fight these charges, […]
Jaywalking is Legal in California. Here’s What to Know
Police tend to use jaywalking tickets as a pretext to stop African American pedestrians. By decriminalizing jaywalking, this problem could be erased without making the streets any more dangerous for pedestrians.
Thinking About Cooperating With the Police?
Being investigated for a crime is intimidating. Many people believe that the best way to clear their name is to cooperate with the police in every step of the investigation and answer any questions detectives may ask. Sometimes people worry they will look guilty if they invoke their right to silence, insist on contacting a […]
