Our Torrance criminal defense attorneys have years of experience in getting felony, misdemeanor, and infraction charges reduced or dismissed in the South Bay and throughout Los Angeles County. Our local law office is located at:
3655 Torrance Blvd. Ste 325
Torrance, CA 90503
(424) 488-4212
Surrounding areas we serve include Inglewood, Carson, Gardena, Hawthorne, Lawndale, Lomita, Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Rolling Hills, and Rancho Palos Verdes.
Experienced criminal defense
Our Torrance DUI lawyers and criminal defense lawyers defend against all California charges. Some of the most common criminal cases we handle are:
- Bail hearings
- Criminal record expungements
- Domestic violence
- Drug crimes, such as drug possession (HS 11350)
- DUI defense, including the DMV hearing
- Hit and run (VC 20002)
- Lewd conduct
- Probation-violation hearings
- Sex crimes
- Shoplifting and other theft crimes
- Traffic tickets
- Violent crimes, such as assault and battery (PC 242)
- White collar crimes
Torrance jail and court
Law enforcement in the city of Torrance is handled by the Torrance Police Department. Those arrested in Torrance are usually booked at the Torrance Police Department Jail, located at:
3300 Civic Center Dr
Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 618-5631
Search for inmate information here.
Criminal charges in Torrance are prosecuted at the Los Angeles Superior Court Torrance Courthouse, located at
825 Maple Ave.
Torrance, CA 90503
(310) 787-3700
Search for case information here.
Criminal court process
People who get arrested in Torrance usually are given the option to bail out. And some may be released on their own recognizance without having to post bond at all.
The first court date of a criminal case is the arraignment, the formal reading of charges. Defendants may be able to miss this appearance if they hire a private attorney. Otherwise, defendants who miss the arraignment – or any other required court appearances – will have a bench warrant issued for their arrest.
Once a bench warrant has been ordered, the defendant may be arrested anywhere and anytime. In order to get the bench warrant recalled, the defendant (or his/her attorney) would need to file a motion to quash the warrant with the court and then appear before the judge. Courts usually agree to recall bench warrants unless the defendant has a history of skipping court appearances.
Defendants who cannot hire their own attorney will be appointed a public defender.
After the defendant gets formally charged, the District Attorney’s Office may make an offer to the defense attorney in the form of a plea bargain. Prosecutors usually want to avoid trial, so they often offer to reduce or dismiss charges. If the defense attorney and prosecutors can come to an agreement, then the judge will usually rubber-stamp the plea negotiation terms.
In most felony cases, defendants are entitled to a preliminary hearing. This is like a mini-trial, and the purpose is for the judge to determine whether prosecutors have enough probable cause to press charges. If the defendant wins, the judge will dismiss the charge. Otherwise, the defense and prosecution can continue plea bargain negotiations or go to trial.
Defendants can be convicted of a criminal offense in one of two ways: 1) By entering a guilty plea (or a no-contest plea), or 2) by getting a guilty verdict at trial. Either way, the judge will hold a sentencing hearing following the conviction. Sometimes this hearing occurs right after the conviction. In more serious cases, the hearing may occur several weeks after the conviction.
Nearly every crime carries a possible jail sentence and fines. Though if the defendant is eligible for probation, the jail sentence could be suspended as long as the defendant completes all the other sentencing terms. Common terms include paying a fine and victim restitution, performing community service, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, attending classes and/or counseling, and avoiding further arrests.
Call our law firm for legal advice. Our criminal defense and DUI attorneys offer free consultations.
Our Torrance criminal defense lawyers consist of former prosecutors and police officers who use our criminal justice system experience to build the most effective defenses available for our clients. The law offices of Shouse Law Group serve clients throughout northern, central, and southern California, including Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Van Nuys, Beverly Hills, Compton, Pasadena, San Francisco, and more. Our practice areas include personal injury as well as criminal law.
Disclaimer: Past results and client reviews do not guarantee future results.