Rizio and Nelson California Law Blog

California’s Crime Rate is Down

In a society such as ours where freedom is valued above all else, it is inevitable that some people make bad choices and commit crimes. For this, we obviously have a judicial system in place to punish criminals. In California, we have a Three Strikes Law that is helping to put criminals in jail and keep them there. Despite the problem of overcrowded prisons in our state, fewer career criminals are...

Methamphetamine Statistics

Methamphetamines, also known as “meth” or “crystal meth”, are drugs that are quickly growing in popularity in the state of California. Among the biggest users of this drug are young women, ages 12 to 25. This should not be surprising, since the affects of meth use include increased energy levels, elevated mood, and appetite suppression. Our society has conditioned our young women to believe...

Marijuana In The News

When we think about marijuana’s negative connotations, we envision prison cells for drug use, selling marijuana, growing the drug, and maybe even selling or forging prescriptions for it. There rarely come visions of wildfire when we mention the phrase “marijuana problems,” but this can actually be a major concern in the state of California. Case in point: Just this year people have...

Possession of Marijuana

The State of California treats drug offenses very seriously, prosecuting offenders to the full extent of the law whenever it is possible. However, the laws surrounding the possession of marijuana can be confusing and it can be intimidating to face these charges if one does not harbour a thorough understanding of the state laws. This makes it ultimately important to seek the advice and counsel of a...

Cocaine Abuse

Introduced to European society centuries ago, cocaine abuse has been a dark shadow on the history of mankind and our development. In the late 1800’s, Coca-Cola was known to use cocaine as a flavour additive in their new carbonated beverage. Abuse and addiction are left in the drug’s wake, destroying those who have touched it. With an extremely high import rate into the U.S. and Canada,...

Drug Cultivation & Possession

Did you know that having only one marijuana plant in your home can be considered a federal offense? Few people understand that even this minor amount of marijuana can be a serious problem. There are locations that can cause you additional problems if a plant is found there – such as near schools (most are designated drug free zones) which can result in mandatory jail time. Don’t risk freedom...

California Juvenile Offenses

Unfortunately teenagers don’t always make the right decision and in fact may find themselves facing a multitude of legal issues ranging from simple infractions which are fine-able offenses to far more serious juvenile crimes which are categorized as felonies. We all understand that children are not always wise about the choices they make and we understand the dangers to a child who is placed...

Grand Theft – Shoplifting

Shoplifting may be considered grand theft depending on the value of items that have been stolen. This is a crime that is very hard to defend since there are generally security tapes, witnesses or other evidence that is difficult to ignore. There is a significant difference however in how the charges are lodged. If a grand theft charge is defended properly it can be reduced to a misdemeanor instead...