State and Federal Criminal Law Resources in California

The following links are designed to help you find information related to criminal law and criminal defense in California. If you or a loved one has been arrested on state or federal charges, these resources may help you understand the process and the rights of the accused. For advice and representation in Los Angeles on matters ranging from DUI and drug charges to sex offenses and homicide, contact the Law Offices of Sef Krell in Encino for immediate assistance from an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Southern California.

California Criminal Law Resources

The Los Angeles County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in the county, from traffic infractions to misdemeanors and felonies, as well as issues involving search warrants, grand jury indictments, and other criminal matters.

The Los Angeles County Superior Court provides Bail-Out Citing Guides and Bail Schedules online, which can help you determine your appearance dates and estimate the amount of bail that may be required in your case.

Misdemeanor and felony offenses defined by state law, including assault, homicide, theft offenses, sex offenses, and drug crimes can be found in the California Penal Code.

Looking over the California Criminal Jury Instructions can help you understand some of the key terms in a criminal case, such as reasonable doubt and the burden of proof, general versus specific intent, sentencing enhancements, and lesser included offenses.

What Should I Know if I am Arrested? is a pamphlet available from the State Bar of California that covers important topics such as your rights, police interrogation, bail and arrest records.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates all state adult prisons and juvenile facilities and a variety of community correctional facilities. Visit this site to locate an inmate, find a facility, or arrange a visit with an inmate.

Federal Criminal Law Resources

The United States District Court, Central District of California is the trial court for federal criminal cases in Los Angeles County as well Ventura County, Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

The United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit hears appeals from the federal district courts covering California and other western states.

As the highest court in the land, the United States Supreme Court is the court of last resort for federal or state cases. The court often takes criminal cases that involve serious constitutional matters such as search and seizure or the right to remain silent.

The United States Department of Justice is the federal agency in charge of enforcing U.S. laws.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) enforces the nation’s drug laws as found in the Controlled Substances Act and its regulations.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates a handful of federal offenses, such as those dealing with organized crime, gang activity, terrorism, cybercrime, child predators and serial killers.

At the Federal Bureau of Prisons website, you can locate an inmate in the federal system, locate a facility, or find information on education, health care and a number of other inmate matters.

Access the Federal Sentencing Guidelines at the website for the United States Sentencing Commission.

The DEA publishes a Federal Drug Trafficking Penalties table that gives the range of penalties for conviction of a drug offense, based upon type of drug, amount of drug, whether it is a first or subsequent offense, and other factors. Chart One covers drugs on Schedules I-V (cocaine, heroin, LSD, meth and PCP), and Chart Two covers marijuana and hash.