PRO or CON By Chris Finnie – former Contributing Author to Crime, Justice and America magazine. Originally published in 2002 and reposted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine In 1996, California passed the “sexually violent predator” law, which allows the state to evaluate prisoners convicted of multiple violent sex offenses, and transfer them […]
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How To Seal Your Criminal Record
By retired Attorney Dennis Lempert, former Criminal Defense Attorney in Santa Clara County, California. Originally published in 2004 and reposted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine Question: How Can I Seal My Record In California? My Record Was Already Dismissed Under PC 1203.4 Answer: Peter A has gotten his case dismissed by using […]
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Wages of Sin – Profiting In Prison
By John Riley – former contributing author for Crime, Justice and America magazine. Originally published in 2002 and reposted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine “Son of Sam” laws are meant to prevent criminals from profiting from their crimes. The law gets its name from the pseudonym of David Berkowitz, the infamous Son […]
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Suppression of Evidence – The Basics
By Kirk Tarman, Criminal Defense Attorney in San Bernardino County, California. Originally published in 2007 and reposted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine This article is designed to give a layperson a superficial understanding of a motion to suppress. Basically when an attorney says that he is going to attempt to suppress evidence […]
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Swear To Tell The Truth
The 16 Most Important Things To Do – And Not Do – On The Witness Stand by the late Mark Sullivan, Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorney, Palm Springs, California. Originally printed in 2005 and reprinted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine Whether you’re the defendant or a witness, proper preparation – following the […]
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11 Reasons NOT To Talk To The Police
by the late Mark Sullivan, Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorney, Palm Springs, California. Originally printed in 2005 and reprinted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine This article might just as well be entitled “You have the right to remain silent. Use it. Say nothing.” This doesn’t mean “Deny having committed the crime.” It […]
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8 Things Every Defendant Must Know!
A GUIDE TO COURTROOM ETIQUETTE by the late Mark Sullivan, Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorney, Palm Springs, California. Originally printed in 2005 and reprinted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine If you’re a defendant in the courtroom, your demeanor and attitude will be noticed – by the prosecutor trying to convict you, by […]
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Informant Rights Exposed: Complete Legal Strategy
By Kirk Tarman, Criminal Defense Attorney in San Bernardino County, California. Originally published in 2008 and reposted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine As a second-year law student in 1988, I attended a conference of criminal defense attorneys in San Francisco where half the day was devoted to discovery procedures for the disclosure […]
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The Confidential Informant – AKA “The Snitch”
By Kirk Tarman, Criminal Defense Attorney in San Bernardino County, California. Originally published in 2007 and reposted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine A confidential informant is a person used by the police to help them in their investigation – often, somebody who was arrested by those same police and is now helping […]
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THE GAME PLAN – For A Successful Criminal Defense
by the late Mark Sullivan, Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorney, Palm Springs, California. Originally printed in 2004 and reprinted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine Clients choose their lawyer based upon a number of factors, but one is most common. Everyone wants to know what the attorney is going to do, and how […]
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Criminal Law 101: How To Defend Your Future
Up To The Preliminary Hearing By Kirk Tarman, Criminal Defense Attorney in San Bernardino County, California. Originally published in 2006 and reposted with permission from Crime, Justice and America magazine Many time defendants are thrust into the hostile waters of the criminal justice system without any idea what is going on and what their rights […]
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Secure Your Freedom: The Ultimate Probation Interview Guide
SPEAK FOR YOURSELF AND HELP YOURSELF: By Andrew Dósa – Criminal Defense Attorney in Alameda County California. Originally published in 2007 and reprinted with permission from Crimina Justice and America magazine Up until now, you’ve been silent. You wanted to speak up, but someone else did the talking, explaining, arguing, and negotiating for you. Your […]
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