Restitution in California: What You Have to Pay, and What Happens If You Cannot
California restitution explained simply: the restitution fine, victim restitution, why “I cannot afford it” works on one of them and not the other.
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Sorting Custody Credits Between Cases: The Day That Counts Twice, and the Day That Earns Nothing
The verdict came back guilty. The fight over the sentence is mostly done. What is left is a number, and it is the number that decides when you walk out: how many of the days you already sat in jail get taken off the end. If you were picked up on more than one case,…
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How Long Does Probation Last in California? (And What Actually Violates It)
California capped misdemeanor probation at one year and felony probation at two. Here is who that helps, who it misses, and what really counts as a violation.
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Alternatives to Custody in California: Home Detention, Work Release, Work Furlough, and Split Sentences
A California judge can sentence you to 180 days in county jail. That same judge, in most cases, cannot put you on home detention. The sheriff does that. This is the single most misunderstood thing about serving a jail sentence in California, and it drives almost every mistake that follows. Defendants assume the judge decides….