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Oakland Alameda county court house facade on a sunny day.
Criminal Defense

What You Need to Know About Filing Criminal Charges

Of all the concepts I explain at free initial consultations, something that comes up often is the fact that the individual, shortly after the arrest, is typically not yet charged with any crime. Most people assume…

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Police officer making an arrest, escorting a young man in handcuffs toward the back seat of his police car, at night.
Criminal Defense

Understanding Bail, Booking, and Over-Booking

The judge has discretion over bail, but what happens before you see the judge? How is bail determined before you go to court? Is the bail likely to increase, decrease, or stay the same when it…

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FBI agents with a flashlight during investigation looking at physical evidence on a table at the crime scene
Criminal Defense

1999 Warrant Exception Law Overturned

In 1999, California judges came up with a new law, the “Community Caretaking Function,” rendering certain police searches and seizures permissible without a warrant. This new…

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