If you’ve been spurred to action to help protect their neighbors, friends, and family members who may be targeted by the ramped up ICE raids, do your research before taking action. While social media users have a lot of “advice” for how to protect people from ICE and Border Patrol raids, much of their suggestions […]
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 […]
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, […]
The 7 Types of Criminal Warrants in California
While most people have heard of search and arrest warrants, fewer are familiar with the other types used in the criminal justice system. Regardless of the variety, they are all used to help keep the justice system working as smoothly as possible, making it possible for police to do their jobs while ensuring witnesses and […]
Sightseeing or Unauthorized Entry into an Emergency Area
When emergency personnel are called to handle a fire, hostage situation, car crash, or any other situation that threatens the public’s safety, they must be able to do their jobs without interference. It is for this very reason that California has instituted multiple laws to help protect first responders while they handle dangerous situations. These […]
What Surveillance Tools do Police in San Diego County Use?
Overall, Americans are against the idea of statewide surveillance programs, which is why there are no nationwide camera systems complete with facial recognition like there are in many other countries. But Americans, like most people, also want police to be able to solve crimes, especially serious and violent offenses. Balancing the public’s desire for privacy […]
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 […]
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.
What to do if You’re Accused of Evading the Police in California
When you see a police car’s flashing lights, you are expected to pull over, even if only to get out of the way. But failing to do so does not constitute evading arrest in California, nor is the definition limited to the high-speed chases commonly seen on TV news programs —in fact, most cases of […]
