Useful Information About California State Prisons

It can be an intimidating concept to think you or a loved one will be serving time in a California state prison.  The attorney most likely has said that he or she cannot know in advance which prison will be the assigned one, so where are the prisons?  How big are they?  If you know where a loved one is housed, what is the prison known for or famous for?  How many prisoners are there at that prison?  Click on the following link to learn more about our many states prisons.

Is a Red Light Camera Ticket Proper If the City Fails to Comply with the 30 Day Notice Requirement for Such Tickets?

When someone receives an envelope in the mail giving notice that a photographic record exists of his or her car running a red light and stating what the fee is, there is a sense of being violated.  There is a natural question that arises of “what if the camera was not properly synchronized to the light?”  What if someone else was driving?  What if the city failed to give proper notice that such red light cameras would be used to issue tickets?  Click on the following link to read about such notice requirements.


What Is Defrauding an Inkeeper (Penal Code § 537)?

If you or someone you know has been arrested or charged with defrauding an innkeeper, you may think the police or the prosecutor has made a mistake.  After all, who is an innkeeper?  What is the punishment?  What are the defenses?  Is it s felony or a misdemeanor?  Click on the following link to read answers to these questions.


Can One Be Convicted of Contacting a Minor for Purposes of Committing Sexual Penetration (Penal Code § 288.3) If the Minor Is 2,000 Miles Away?

In the age of the Internet, live chat, video conferencing and travel by jet, people are brought closer, at least theoretically.  However, the law often lags behind the realities of the present.  In the following summary of a reported decision, a man convicted of contacting a minor for purposes of committing sexual penetration challenged his conviction because the minor was 2,000 miles away.  Did he have a point?  To find out, click on the following link.

What Is a Gang Enhancement for Purposes of a Sentencing Enhancement?

Are you or is someone you know being charged with a crime that involves a gang enhancement for purposes of sentencing?  The enhancement, provided under Penal Code § 186.22, allows a judge to add five years to the sentence if he or she finds the crime was committed for the benefit of such a gang with the specific intent to benefit or promote the gang.  How does such a definition apply in a real case?  Click on the link below to find out.

Can Dine and Dash Be Charged As Felony Petty Theft?

Defrauding an innkeeper, which includes “dine and dash,” is often thought of as an adolescent prank, perhaps even an initiation stunt for a social club at a high school.  However, it is theft and it can involve significant lost revenue for a restaurant.  But can it be charged as a felony?  After all, a felony is a very serious crime – the most serious.  To read answers to how defrauding an innkeeper can be charged and why, click on the following link.

Smuggling Someone to the U.S. Can Be Kidnapping for Ransom

We hear about people entering the U.S. illegally using “coyotes” and by boat quite often, as well as simply coming directly through Tijuana, hidden in a car.  Can this be kidnapping for ransom if the “mule” or driver, or ship’s captain, demands a fee and then refuses to release the person until payment is made?  Click on the following link to find out.