Perlman & Cohen Los Angeles Criminal Lawyers Blog

Key Takeaways: Being falsely accused of domestic abuse is one of the most disorienting experiences a person can face. The accusation alone can destroy your reputation, break apart your family, and set the legal system in motion before a single fact is confirmed. In California, police can arrest based on probable cause alone, without first […]...

Key Takeaways The difference between DUI and DWI comes down to where you were charged and what terms the state uses to describe impaired driving. Picture this: a police officer pulls you over at a traffic stop, and you are not sure what charge applies. The NHTSA reports that about 37 people in the U.S. […]...

Key Takeaways What is considered self-defense in Los Angeles depends on whether a reasonable person in the same situation would have felt the same reasonable fear and responded with similar force. California's self-defense laws allow individuals to defend themselves when they face imminent danger, but strict legal standards determine whether that forc...

Key Takeaways Murder charges fall into different categories under California law, and the degree of the charge determines the severity of the punishment. Understanding first degree vs second degree murder explained is essential because first-degree murder involves willful, deliberate, and premeditated killing, while second-degree murder typically cove...

When a case is dismissed without prejudice, the court closes your case temporarily rather than permanently. The plaintiff or prosecutor keeps the right to refile the case later. This type of dismissal applies to both civil and criminal cases. A dismissal without prejudice sounds like good news, but the details matter significantly. So, what does [&hel...

A DUI stays on your California driving record for 10 years from the arrest date. Your criminal record tells a different story. A DUI conviction remains on your criminal record permanently unless you take steps to have it expunged. In 2020, California recorded 95,957 DUI arrests, with 95.2% charged as misdemeanors and 4.4% as felonies. […]...

The straightforward answer to the topic, "Can self-defense be used in a murder case? California legal standards explained," is yes, but meeting the legal requirements is challenging. Under California law, a person may claim self-defense in murder cases if strict rules are met. This defense does not deny the act but argues it was legally […]...

The answer to the question: Can prescription medications lead to a DUI arrest in California? is yes. Having a legal prescription does not prevent a DUI charge if the medication impairs your ability to drive safely. Under California law, driving under the influence is about impairment, not whether the drug is legal. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter...

The answer to the question "Employee theft vs embezzlement: how prosecutors decide what to charge" depends on intent, access, and evidence. In the criminal justice system, this decision affects penalties, felony exposure, and even federal charges. We see many workers and employers confused by these terms. At Perlman & Cohen Los Angeles Criminal La...

Understanding constructive possession vs actual possession in California drug cases matters because these two ideas decide how drug possession charges are filed and how prosecutors try to prove someone controlled a controlled substance under California law. Many people do not realize they can face charges even when nothing is found on their bodies. At...