California

Health and Safety Code § 11375 HS makes it a crime to possess, possess for sale, or sell certain prescription sedatives and benzodiazepine drugs (such as Valium, Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin). Possessing these drugs without a prescription is a misdemeanor or an infraction. Selling or intending to sell these drugs can be a misdemeanor or a …

Health & Safety Code 11370.1 HS – "Possession of a controlled substance while armed"Watch this video on YouTube California Health and Safety Code 11370.1 HS makes it a crime to possess a controlled substance while being armed with an operable firearm. This is a felony punishable by up to four years behind bars and $10,000 …

CA Possession of Methamphetamine (Health & Safety Code 11377)Watch this video on YouTube California Health & Safety Code § 11377(a) HS makes it a misdemeanor to possess methamphetamine for personal use (“simple possession”). If eligible, you can even get your charges dismissed by completing a diversion treatment program. However, simple meth possession can be a …

Playlist: PC 1000 Drug Diversion or Deferred Entry of Judgement after a drug possession convictionWatch this playlist on YouTube Penal Code § 1000 PC sets forth California’s pretrial diversion program for drug crimes involving simple possession for personal use. The program allows many non-violent drug offenders to receive treatment and education in lieu of jail time. …

Playlist: California Trespassing LawsWatch this playlist on YouTube California Penal Code § 602 PC prohibits trespassing, which is entering someone else’s property without permission or a right to do so. Trespass also comprises remaining on another’s property after being asked to leave. Examples of trespassing include: Camping on a field that is marked with “no …

DUI vs Wet Reckless? A Former District Attorney Explains the LawWatch this video on YouTube Wet reckless is the crime that California prosecutors reduce a misdemeanor DUI charge down to as part of a plea agreement. Wet reckless (often called “wet and reckless”) is a nickname for a reckless driving charge that includes a note …

California Penal Code § 1203.4 PC permits you to expunge your criminal conviction after you complete probation as long as you did not serve time in state prison. There are exceptions, such as for serious crimes, violent crimes, or sex offender crimes. The full text of the statute is: PC 1203.4. (a)(1) When a defendant …

California Penal Code 33215 PC is the statute that prohibits making, importing, possessing, giving, lending, or offering for sale short-barreled rifles or sawed-off shotguns. This crime can be a misdemeanor or a felony carrying up to three years in jail. However, it may be possible to get your criminal charges reduced or dismissed. In this article, …

Abuse of inmates and prisoners can be a civil rights violation. Victims may have grounds to bring a civil rights lawsuit with lawyers who help prisoners such as the civil rights lawyers at the Shouse Law Group. If successful, the abused inmate(s) could recover money damages. The lawsuit can also force a policy change that …

California Penal Code § 490.4 PC makes it a crime to commit organized retail theft, which is when two or more people act to steal merchandise from a brick-and-mortar store or online marketplace. Depending on the case, organized retail theft can be prosecuted as a felony or a misdemeanor. The full statute reads as follows: …

California Penal Code § 147 PC makes it a crime for prison officers to act with willful inhumanity or oppression towards prisoners in their care. Officers found to have acted inhumanely or oppressively towards their prisoners face a $4,000 fine plus being terminated from their position. The language of the statute reads as follows 147. …

California Penal Code § 4574 PC makes bringing weapons into detention centers a felony carrying two, three, or four years in prison (though bringing in tear gas that does not get released is only a misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and/or $1,000). Meanwhile, jail inmates found in possession of weapons face felony …

California Education Code § 44830.1 prohibits school districts from employing teachers convicted of a serious felony or violent felony. Though there is an exception if you received a certificate of rehabilitation or pardon or if your conviction gets reversed. The full text of the statute reads as follows: EC 44830.1 – Employment of Felons (a) In …

With California Senate Bill 731 now law, most state felony convictions get automatically sealed from your criminal record four years after the case ends. In addition, all felony arrest records which did not lead to charges get automatically sealed after three years. Plus you cannot be denied teaching credentials for expunged drug possession convictions older …