Stalking, whether done online or in person, is a crime that can leave someone fearing for their life or the safety of their family. California has enacted many laws to protect citizens from stalking, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and cyber harassment, all of which are covered by Penal Code sections 646.9 (PC). If you have been accused of […]
Is an IP Address Enough to Convict Someone of a Crime?
As the internet has become a standard part of our lives, judges have tried to figure out how our existing laws and precedents apply in the digital age. The courts must balance law enforcement’s need to investigate crimes with the Constitution’s protections against unreasonable search and seizure. Similarly, they must balance the government’s interest in […]
California Hacking Laws Prohibit Accessing Computers Without Permission
It can be very tempting to look at someone’s emails, Facebook, Instagram messages, texts, or other private data without permission. Still, unauthorized access of another person or company’s computer, electronic data, or computer network without permission is a crime in California. It doesn’t matter if you were trying to commit a crime, such as fraud […]
What are the Laws Regarding Warrants and Cell Phone Searches?
There was a time when cell phones simply stored phone numbers and records of when calls took place, but a modern cell phone can now provide police with banking records, photos, email conversations, texts, internet search histories, a person’s location history and more. This is why the United States Supreme Court has been ruling on […]
What You Should Know About the Revenge Porn Law in California
California’s revenge porn law outlaws sharing explicit images or videos with even just one other person if the person depicted did not consent to the distribution of the material and could suffer emotional distress as a result.
Making Harassing, Threatening or Obscene Phone Calls in California
Most people have prank called at least a few phone numbers in their lifetimes. And realistically, there’s no real harm in asking someone if their refrigerator is running. But when prank phone calls get out of hand and start involving threats, obscenity or repeated calls to the same victim, they become a form of harassment […]
The Crime of Sexual Extortion in Vista, California
Sexual extortion, often called “sextortion,” could technically involve all types of exploitation, but the acts covered by California law involve blackmailing someone by threatening to release their nude or otherwise sexually explicit images or videos. It doesn’t matter if the blackmail is an attempt to extort money, sexual favors, or any other type of property; […]
Terrorist and Criminal Threats: Penal Code Section 422 (PC)
Under California law, criminal threats of any nature, be they personal or terror-related, are charged in the same manner. That means whether you threaten to threaten to kill an ex or if you call in a bomb threat to an airport, you will still be charged with making a criminal threat. If you have been […]
The Most Common Crimes Committed On Social Media
For all the good social media has done in helping to connect people, it has also helped people commit crimes in a number of ways. While the most obvious recent example was the planning far-right agitators did before storming the capitol, there are many other ways social media can be used for criminal acts. Here […]
Smartphone Apps for Probation and Parole Monitoring
It seems like there really is an app for everything these days. In fact, there are even apps for those on probation, parole and pretrial release. Some researchers are hoping these technologies can one day be used to help past offenders who have been released to recognize and prevent situations that caused them to commit […]
