Background When Arthur Lange zipped past police – windows down, music blaring, horn honking – police got suspicious, and their suspicions only grew when Mr. Lange, ignoring the lights and loud commands to pull over, drove on. He pulled into his driveway and stumbled...
When California Penal Code 1001.83 went into effect in January 2020, it was met with little fanfare. In some ways, this was surprising - the passage of 1001.83, or Primary Caregiver Diversion, was - and continues to be - transformative piece of legislation. Why?...
The ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a new presidential administration, and shifting attitudes towards law enforcement have reshaped the way the legal system approaches mass incarceration, the War on Drugs, and gun violence. Both California and the federal government...
Introduction California’s prohibition against domestic violence consists of two statutes: domestic battery under Penal Code section 243(e)(1) and corporal injury on a spouse under 273.5(a). Even though both statutes criminalize domestic violence, the offenses - and...
In September 2020, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1950, which shortened the length of probation in both misdemeanor and felony cases. Under this law, probation is capped at one year for misdemeanors and two years for felonies. Of course, there are some...