Many people know what vandalism is. We hear about it, and see it, all of the time. Vandalism is taken very seriously in California. Getting caught vandalizing someone’s property can land a person in jail with hefty fines. While many people think they know what constitutes as vandalism, there are a few acts which fall into that category that people are unaware of.

Vandalism is the classified as the act of maliciously destroying or damaging someone else’s property.

Here is a quick list of acts that qualify as vandalism in the state of California:

• Writing or painting on something that does not belong to you. This can even include writing your name in the wet cement of a city sidewalk.
• Damaging a piece of property such as a window on a house or car. This can include breaking something of your significant other’s while fighting.
• Destroying something beyond the point of repair.

If a person does one of these 3 things, he or she has committed an act of vandalism. If caught by law enforcement, this person can face a fine and possible jail time. The severity of the punishment often depends on how much damage was caused by the act. If the damage amounts to less than $400, than the crime is considered a misdemeanor. The accused person could face, at max, 1 year in jail and a fine of no more than $1,000.

If the damage total is greater than $400, the accused could face anywhere from 1 to 3 years in prison. On top of that, they could face a fine of $10,000, or more. The size of the fine will vary based on how bad the damage is.

Public defenders and hired lawyers serve the same purpose: to defend and fight for their client in court. Their goal is to persuade the jury and the judge that their client is innocent of the charges against them. Although they serve the same purpose, both have pros and cons when defending a client.

• Public Defender

  If a person cannot afford to hire a private attorney, the court will appoint a public defender to them. Therefore, the client does not have to pay for their public defender. The client cannot pick from a selection of public defenders; one is assigned to them. Public defenders are versed in a variety of cases and will be able to take on your case just fine.

However, public defenders do not make as much money as private attorneys, and they often have multiple cases to work on at the same time. Due to this, a public defender may have less time to meet with each client and go through materials. They must split their time across however many cases they have at once.

• Private Attorney

  For many people, the main problem with hiring a private lawyer rather than a public defender is the cost. Private lawyers can be expensive, and they can be more expensive for serious or prolonged cases than short ones. Nonetheless, the services of a private lawyer are more beneficial than a public defender since the private lawyer will have more time to dedicate to their client. They will have more resources such as extra help from associates, and will likely be able to build a stronger case.

Additionally, lawyers may specialize in certain criminal cases, such as domestic abuse. This means that someone who is in the middle of a domestic abuse case can hire a lawyer who specializes in this, rather than a lawyer who specializes in an unrelated criminal matter. Since clients pay for a private lawyer they selected, the private lawyer is more inclined to perform at their best because their practice and reputation relies on satisfied clients.

If a family can afford a private lawyer, that is the best way to go. If not, hope is not lost. A public defender is ready and willing to take on the case and they will do as much as they can to help the family win.

If you are trying to get hired, you will dress neatly and offer respectable, mature mannerisms. How you present yourself is equally as important as how technically skilled you are for the position. Similarly, how you present yourself to the jury and the judge in court is very important. After all, these are the people who will be deciding your case. It is not just the evidence and arguments that your lawyer makes on the case. Your appearance is important too.

• Dress

  Unless you are obligated to appear in an orange jumpsuit because you are being brought in directly from jail, you will want to dress neatly and professionally. Men should wear a collared, buttoned shirt tucked into their long pants. They should have a belt on, and a tie is a plus. Men should wear socks with their shoes, and they may or may not have a jacket on. Women may wear a skirt that should not be more than 2 inches above the knee. Their sleeved blouse should be tucked in, and they should have on flats, or low-heel shoes. Women may also choose to wear long pants with her blouse tucked in. She should wear a sweater, but she can take it off if she gets warm. Across the board, clothing should be clean and free of distracting items like embellishments, wording, rips, and stains.

• Conduct

  Any defendant must closely follow certain courtroom etiquette, and they will be advised by their lawyer ahead of time. They should only speak when they are asked to, and they must speak clearly. Remaining calm and polite is important, because growing irritated, angry, and argumentative is not going to help their case. They should sit and stand straight. The judge should be acknowledged as “Your Honor.” Looking eye-to-eye with the court shows maturity and seriousness from the defendant, which is a plus.

So much can be said about a person based on their appearance and their in-court demeanor. This is essentially the defendant’s chance to give the jury and the judge a good impression, and hopefully the evidence and facts about the case itself will back the defendant up.

Large outdoor music festivals and concerts invite attendees to bring their friends, enjoy some music, and have a whole lot of fun. Many outdoor festivals also offer food booths, carnival rides, and other attractions. They are advertised as a whole experience, where some even run for multiple days and offer overnight camping. While the festivals provide a whole lot of fun for attendees, they also cause issues that call law enforcement to break up the fun.

One of the biggest recurring problems with music festivals is the usage and possession of illegal drugs. While alcohol may be served at the event for those who are 21 and older, smuggling in and using drugs of any kind is illegal. Illegal drugs are illegal for a reason. They are harmful to the body, and people react differently to the drugs. Some can “handle” more than others, but any amount is unsafe. The more drugs a body has in the system, the more dangerous they are to themselves and others. When alcohol and drugs are mixed, the person is even more dangerous.

Remember that summertime concerts mean that attendees are burning through their energy under a scorching sun. Staying hydrated with water is imperative in order to avoid exhaustion, dehydration, and fainting. When this happens, paramedics come in, and that is also when they may discover the patient is under the influence.

If the police find someone under the influence of illegal drugs or in possession of them, they will take that person away in handcuffs. The person faces fines and some time in jail. If they are found with an excessive amount of drugs, they can face a few years in prison.

For a person to have a lot of excitement about a concert, only to have it end abruptly because of health complications or because they were caught with drugs is really unfortunate. That is money wasted, lasting memories never had, and time lost. Getting arrested is a lot of stress for a person and it may make them think again before taking drugs at a festival. Hopefully they realize they do not need drugs.

Music festivals are no strangers to some drug abuse and arrests, but it needs to stop before it gets out of control and ruins the fun for everyone.

There was a recent incident involving rape, Facebook, and what did or did not happen after the fact. An adolescent Chicago girl was raped by 5 or 6 males and the incident was streamed live on Facebook long enough for nearly 50 people to watch and know what was going on. None of those nearly 50 people reported the assault to the police. So, besides the males who attacked the girl, do those 50 or so people also get in trouble for witnessing it, but not speaking up? Here is a closer look at what the laws say about bystanders who become witnesses to crimes.

In the United States, if a person is a witness to a crime, they likely have no legal obligation to report it to the police. There are groups of people though who are required to report certain crimes, and it would be because of their profession. For example, doctors, nurses, law enforcement, social workers, and teachers are required to report certain crimes, like abuse and neglect, to the police, even if they just suspect that it is occurring. If these people are required to report crimes but fail to do so, they can be charged a misdemeanor and face up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

There may be no legal obligation to report a crime, but there may be a moral obligation to do so. This means that a person who witnesses a crime may report it because they believe it is the right thing to do. They may or may not know that they do not legally have to do it or that they will not get arrested for failing to reporting a crime. If they believe they should contact the police because what they witnessed was wrong and they want some type of justice, they will report it. This is their moral obligation.

When it comes to witnessing crimes online, there are complicating factors. For example, witnesses may not accurately assess what they saw online or what they saw online may be a fake or manipulated video. For California, the same law applies. Someone who witnesses a crime happening through an online channel is not required to report it, and they will not be arrested for failing to do so.

In either case, witnessing a crime in person or online, the police may still track witnesses down to question them. By this point, the police will know they did not report the crime, but they will not be arrested. The police just want to take down a statement of what the witness saw and heard.

Many types of gambling are illegal in California, but at least Las Vegas is not too far away! It is worth noting that not all forms of gambling are outlawed in California.

Here are some ways gamblers can get their fix without having to leave California:

• Indian Casinos – These are similar to Vegas-style casinos with card tables, bingo, and slot machines. These casinos are built on Indian land and are protected. This is why they are allowed to operate in California.
• Card Clubs – Players must pay a fee in order to participate. Instead of betting against other players, they are betting against the “house.”
• Parimutuel Horse Wagering – This style is where bets are pooled so they are betting against each other instead of the “house.” The pool is divided among the multiple winners, after taxes. In California, this style of gambling is only allowed in horse racing.
• Charity – In California, the only game allowed to gamble on and have the proceeds go to charity is Bingo.
• Lottery – California participates in the Mega Millions and SuperLotto Plus, among other state lotteries. California also manages the California Lottery.

When it comes to hosting a poker night with the guys at home, and the group wants to place money on the table, it is completely legal as long as the host does not act as the “house” and take their earnings as a business venture profit. In addition, there is a cap on how much money can be gambled between friends: $2,000.

If you cannot make it to Vegas and want to test your luck to try and win some money, you can always go to an Indian casino since there are many within California. Alternatively, you can call up some friends for a game night.

As you know, California passed Prop 64 last November, making marijuana usage legal in California. However, as you might expect, the prop is not that simple to follow. There are details and complexities written within the prop and forthcoming laws.

There are regulations and concerns that must be addressed. Here is what you should know right now:

• Anyone over the age of 21 can use, possess, and share up to one ounce of flowers or eight grams of concentrate of marijuana.
• Anyone over the age of 21 can grow marijuana at home. What is tricky now is that a person cannot purchase a cannabis plant. Rather, they must receive it from another person who is already growing marijuana, and there must be no money transfer. In addition, no more than 6 plants may be grown at home at one time.
• The state has until January 1, 2018 to get through all the rules and red tape so they can begin issuing licenses to marijuana businesses. Do not expect many stores to be ready to sell product until 2018 unless a customer has a medical card or license.
• Similar to how smoking cigarettes and tobacco in public is illegal, smoking and/ or ingesting marijuana in public is illegal.
• If a person plans on traveling outside of California, they cannot take marijuana with them and vice versa. No outside marijuana is allowed to be brought into California.
• Being under the influence of marijuana and driving at the same time is illegal, no matter how much or how little was smoked.

The state and local and federal governments will continue to flush out the laws on marijuana use in California over the next year. There will be state-wide laws and then there will be more localized laws by county or city. It will be a slow transition until everything is ready to go.

If you are a marijuana user, the safe bet is to stay up-to-date on news and changes with the marijuana laws so you do not accidentally get into trouble.

As you are waiting for the formal arraignment of your loved one, here’s some information to help prepare yourself for the outcome.

A judge determines a defendant’s bail based on:

• The crime(s) the defendant is being charged with.
• The criminal history of the defendant.
• The defendant’s ties and relationships within the community.
• The defendant’s financial ability to post bail.

These are the 4 biggest components. The judge takes this information into consideration, alongside what their bail schedule outlines. For those of you who do not know, a bail schedule is list that outlines bail according to the crime.

Besides this incident, if the defendant is squeaky-clean and shows good faith, meaning they will not be a burden for the duration of trial, their bail will not need to be too high.

We at East Los Angeles Bail Bond Store cannot tell you exactly what to expect at an arraignment. We are not the ones who determine how much bail will cost, nor can we have it lowered for you. What we can do is work with you on a bail bond and customizable payment plan once you are aware of the bail amount, since our premium is 10% of the full bail amount. That 10% is all you need to pay; we will take care of the rest.

East Los Angeles Bail Bond Store agents are always available to chat and provide free consultations. We can be reached online, and at 877-793-2245. We will not let you down.

Understanding bail and bail bonds is like trying to understand a new language for most people. With professional help from Downey Bail Bond Store, everything is clearer and makes more sense. Plus, bail is met sooner and smoother, with Downey Bail Bond Store. Consultations are free, but if you want a head-start on understanding some basic key terms and what they mean, keep reading!

• Premium

  This refers to the cost of a bail bond and it will be 10% of the full bail amount. For example, if a judge sets a person’s bail at $50,000, the bail bond would be $5,000. This is non-refundable and can be paid in cash, check, credit, or debit. Downey Bail Bond Store also offers flexible payment plans.

• Surety Bond

  A bail bond falls into the surety bond category, which is an agreement between the defendant, the court, and Downey Bail Bond Store. The defendant pays the premium while Downey Bail Bond Store will extend surety credit. If the bond is compromised and forfeited, Downey Bail Bond Store will pay the forfeiture to the court, and then the defendant will reimburse Downey Bail Bond Store.

• Indemnitor or Co-Signer

  This person is responsible for making sure the defendant shows up for their scheduled court date and obliges to any and all other release conditions and agreements. This person may also offer collateral, as security for taking on this role. If they fail, they lose collateral. However, they also have the right to withdraw from this position at any time, at no consequence to themselves.

• Bounty Hunter

  A bounty hunter works for the bail bond company and will go out and capture defendants, out on bail, who have fled. Upon successful capture of the fugitive, the bounty hunter is rewarded with payment. Bounty hunters must be licensed properly.

• Collateral

  In addition to the premium that is owed for a bail bond, collateral is often a requirement as well. This most often is in the form of real estate, transportation vehicles, electronics, firearms, and other valuables. Collateral is returned to its rightful owner once the trial has ended.

Ready to talk to Downey Bail Bond Store? We will go over all of this again with you since it is imperative you fully understand what is required, what to expect, and everything in between.

Talk to a friendly agent of ours anytime online or at 877-793-2245.

For the most part, your lawyer will take care of the majority of court preparation over the days and weeks leading up to your court date. However, on the actual day itself, you will need to do a few extra things to prepare and present yourself properly.

Your lawyer will also give you some tips of what to do and what not to do for your court appearance:

• Dress as if you are going to a business meeting or interview and do not overdo the accessories.
• Remove sunglasses and hats in court.
• Do not chew gum.
• Arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled court time and try and leave young children at home.
• Use the restroom before going into the courtroom, and turn off your cell phone.
• Sit and stand straight.
• Speak clearly and loud enough for the room to hear and only when you are spoken to, and only what you are asked of.
• Do not grow angry and argumentative.
• Refer to the judge as Your Honor.

How you present and conduct yourself in court will speak to the judge and the jury in addition to the case, facts, and evidence itself. For example, if you get angry, verbal, and disruptive in court, the judge may pause the trial for the day and when you come back, they will be stricter with you. In essence, they are watching you for your behavior.

Listen to and trust your lawyer. If you are out on bail, do not forget to stay on track with bail bond payments. Compton Bail Bond Store will help make sure of this as well.

We can be reached at 877-793-2245 or online should you have any questions or concerns.