For the longest time, California, among many other states, handled juvenile offenders with the same approach they used on adults; by locking them up. Even now, some localities don’t hesitate to do so. But now more than ever, the California Juvenile Justice System has taken to adopting an ethos of opting for community service instead,…

A criminal conviction may seem like the worst thing that’s happening in your life, but it doesn’t always mean you’re going to spend the rest of your days in jail. Thankfully, California lawmakers, prosecutors, and voters understand that spending time behind bars isn’t always effective. In fact, justice may also be acquired by allowing the…

In decades past, a DUI was a relatively minor offense unless a victim was seriously hurt. Cases rarely made the news back then, and penalties were mostly limited to fines or DUI classes. The situation today couldn’t be more different. In the event you find yourself facing charges for a DUI (driving under the influence)…

In California, juveniles are considered children by the state and receive different treatment when they commit acts that are otherwise criminal when committed by adults. Because of this, the juvenile and adult justice systems work differently even if the crimes committed might be similar. The differences are seen in the vocabulary used, how the offenders…

In recent years, the number of referrals to state hospitals of patients who have been deemed unfit to stand trial has drastically increased in California. California is also facing a growing number of homeless people, and a significant portion of them suffer mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders. The Mental Health Diversion program allows…

Sexual assault charges are serious allegations that can tarnish one’s reputation for many years. Even after serving the full jail term, a sexual assault conviction haunts past offenders because records are made available to the public. California has numerous sexual assault laws that address individual charges, but this article will highlight the most common. How…

Millions of Americans struggle with rehabilitating from drug addiction and alcoholism. Thankfully, the California legislature acknowledges this struggle and passed several laws that allow afflicted working Americans to take time off work to enter a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Alcohol and drug addiction rehabilitation leave is time off given to employees who wish to…

As mobile technology rapidly advances, so does the increasing demand for smartphones and technology among teenagers. At present, most teenagers have at least one kind of handheld device. Not owning one could certainly be considered an oddity. Smartphones helped bridge the gap in global communication, but some parents don’t realize that unlimited access to these…

George Gascón was recently sworn in as Los Angeles’ District Attorney, and with his inauguration, he unveiled several new policies to be implemented within the Criminal Justice System. During his swearing-in last year, Mr. Gascón announced that his office would be rolling out and implementing new directives for the death penalty, juvenile prosecution, sentence enhancements,…

Minors, especially teenagers, steal more often than you probably know. According to the National Crime Prevention Crime (NPC), about 25% of all shoplifting incidences are by people under the age of 18. Shoplifting is sometimes considered a rite of passage among peers, albeit an illegal one. That being said, stealing, in the eyes of the…

The process of teen development is a unique and formative one. Numerous physical, emotional, and social changes play a crucial role in building and defining a teen's personality. These changes often impact everyone differently, which is why exposing teens to certain environmental factors like violence, abuse, and poverty can make them vulnerable to mental health…