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This summer, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that amended the state’s Domestic Violence Prevention Act to include reproductive coercion as justification for a protective order. The measure defines reproductive coercion as using force to control the reproductive autonomy of another person.
When defining reproductive coercion, the new law describes “force” as applying unreasonable pressure, deliberate interference of access to contraception or reproductive health information, or using coercive tactics to control pregnancy outcomes.
Examples of reproductive coercion could include a boyfriend tampering with his girlfriend’s birth control pills, intentionally impregnating her without her consent, or pressuring her to have an abortion despite her protests.
Reproductive coercion is actually more common than you might think. In a 2018 study, researchers found that up to 14 percent of women who visited a family planning clinic in the U.S. reported reproductive coercion and that upwards of 30 percent of women will experience it in their lifetime.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a measure expanding California’s emergency services so that victims of domestic violence can now contact local domestic violence centers via text and chat. Newsom signed Assembly Bill 689, dubbed the Comprehensive Statewide Domestic Violence Program, without comment last month alongside a host of other bills.
Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, a Democrat from Laguna Beach who filed the bill in February, said “these additional tools and technologies will give survivors more ways to get help when they desperately need it.” She explained the technical services were needed because cases of domestic violence have increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the bill’s summary, the pandemic has resulted in increased levels of isolation, job loss, and stress, all of which are often factors in domestic violence cases. Additionally, the pandemic has also forced police stations to close their reception areas out of fear of spreading disease, which further limits safe spaces for domestic violence victims. Therefore, victims turn to shelters and this increase in demand has caused a financial strain on those same shelters.
If you go into a store in the state of California, steal something, and get arrested, you could be charged with either shoplifting or burglary. What you are charged with, though, depends on what elements of the crime the investigating officer can prove. In California, the crime could be either a misdemeanor or felony. So, when does shoplifting become a burglary? And, when does a burglary become a felony?
According to the California Penal Code, there are two elements to the crime of shoplifting. The first is that you must enter a commercial business during normal hours of operation with the intent to steal something. In other words, you had to plan to steal something before you entered the store. The other element is that the value of the property you take cannot cost more than $950.
If you deviate from that definition, such as steal property valued at more than $950 or enter the store before it opens or after it closes, you could be charged with burglary. However, under state law, you cannot be charged with both shoplifting and burglary for the same theft.
In 2020, there were nearly 1.4 million reports of identity theft across the country. That is a 113 percent increase from the year before. If state and federal authorities were not already prioritizing investigating identity theft crimes, they most likely are now. California was actually ranked the most dangerous place for fraud and identity theft.
The Federal Trade Commission, which is tasked with leading the charge against identity theft, defines it as a type of fraud in which you use or attempt to use a person’s identifying information without permission. Like most states, California law regarding identity theft mirrors that definition. While there are many similarities between the two, state law has some specifics. So, what is identity theft in California?
Identity theft laws are concerned with the misuse of personal information, so the first important question to ask is: what is considered personal information? Well, it is a wide range of things. It could be a person’s social security number, maiden name, bank account or credit card information, passwords, or simply the person’s name.
Earlier this month, the San Jose Police Department announced they shut down a fencing operation involving the theft of high-end bicycles and construction equipment from the city’s downtown area. A “fencing operation” is a type of theft ring in which a central figure buys and sells stolen goods.
According to the SJPD’s press release, the suspect allegedly bought goods from a network of thieves for a fraction of the items’ actual value. Police executed a search warrant in May at the suspect’s house and found a cache of expensive bikes, crates of tools, stolen retail goods, and $20,000 in cash. They estimate the value of the stolen goods to be $100,000.
Given the transactional nature of the crime and the high dollar amount, what kind of crime is that exactly? At the end of it all, the suspect was arrested for receiving stolen property. In the state of California, that is considered a property crime, and it is called larceny.
Last month, the Santa Clara County District Attorney filed two separate cases in which a Bay-area woman allegedly embezzled more than $300,000 from her employer.
In one case, a San Jose woman allegedly used a company credit card to spend more than $300,000 on personal expenses over a two-year period. In the other case, a Dublin woman allegedly used a false name to gain employment at a construction company and then funneled some $480,000 to herself with company checks.
In both cases, the women allegedly used the money to pay for phone bills, rent, vacations, and more. It is a reminder that state, county, and local authorities are still investigating embezzlement and other fraud cases.
Embezzlement differs from traditional theft because, at the time of the theft, you have lawful control over the property or access to the money. However, it is also for that reason embezzlement cases can be complicated. While theft could be taking money from a register, embezzlement might involve using passwords or codes to gain access to an account. Oftentimes, embezzlement requires higher levels of trust and permission to finances.
A horrific shooting on the Costa Mesa highway has led to the announcement by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) that they may soon begin collecting road rage data that occurs on California roads. The shooting resulted in the killing of a six-year-old boy and, since the shooting, other drivers have reported multiple incidents involving the same couple who have been arrested for the boy’s murder. According to a CHP spokesperson, there are currently no vehicle code designations for road rage incidents for statistical purposes. Road rage incidents are not tracked because police say there is not a specific California law that makes road rage a crime.
The tragic incident occurred last month in the HOV lane of the 55 Freeway in Orange County at about 8 a.m. According to police, the boy’s mother was driving her son to kindergarten when another driver veered into her lane and then cut her vehicle off. As the driver sped away, she gave the mother a peace sign. A few miles later, as the mother exited the HOV lane, she drove by the driver and raised her middle finger at the driver and her male passenger.
According to studies and data collected by insurance companies, the majority of drivers – even safe ones – will be involved in three to four vehicle accidents over their driving lifetime. Even a minor accident can be traumatic but knowing what to do in the event of a crash will help ensure you are able to collect whatever damages you may be entitled to from the at-fault driver. The following steps are recommended by the Palo Alto car accident attorneys at Fuller Law Firm. For more detailed information regarding your particular situation, contact our firm directly.
California law requires all drivers who are involved in any type of accident to identify themselves to the others involved. Even if it appears no one has been injured or there is no property damage, you still need to stay at the scene. Not only could leaving the scene result in criminal charges, but it could also imply guilt of liability. Instead, pull your vehicle over in a safe area and out of traffic – if possible – and call 911 to report the crash.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, the federal government took steps to financially assist the millions of Americans who faced financial difficulties the pandemic caused. Programs were set up that provided help to both businesses and employees through the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and Unemployment Insurance programs. There were also relief funds established for health care providers. Unfortunately, while these programs have been critical to many people’s survival, they have also been the target of fraud.
According to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), there have already been more than 500 people charged with attempted fraud, with the total amount of funds allegedly stolen exceeding $500 million. Attorney General Merrick Garland recently announced that the DOJ is ramping up its efforts nationwide to “detect and disrupt COVID-19 related fraud.”
The weather here in the San Jose area means that motorcycle enthusiasts get to enjoy riding for most of the year. For those riders that prefer the warmer weather, May’s arrival is the sign that it is time to get your bike out of storage and on the roads. Unfortunately, as enjoyable as riding a motorcycle is, it can also be one of the most dangerous, resulting in about 500 motorcycle accident deaths in California every year. Another 12,000 are injured. In order to remind everyone on the roads to watch out for motorcycles, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has announced it is recognizing May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
May is designated as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month across the country as a way to encourage motorists’ awareness, and to educate the public on safety. The goal of the campaign is to reduce the number of motorcycle crashes and save lives.
408-234-7563From our office in San Jose, California, we serve clients throughout the Bay Area, including but not limited to Campbell, Los Gatos, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Saratoga, Milpitas, Mountain View, Fremont, Stanford, Union City, and Santa Clara County.
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