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Law Offices of James M. Crawford

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Criminal Defense and Appellate Relief Criminal Law- James M. Juvenile Law- Juvenile law governs delinquency and other related matters.

Appellate Law- Anyone who is convicted of a state or federal crime in California, whether as a result of a jury trial, a bench trial, or by pleading guilty is entitled to appeal his or her conviction or the criminal sentence received. Crawford focuses his practice solely on criminal law, helping clients with their state and federal problems at all stages of the criminal law process

DUI Law- If you have been arrested for DUI, you will have to deal with both the criminal justice system and the DMV. Even for a first offense, the penalties can be serious-including license suspension, fines of almost $2,000, mandatory attendance at State or DMV Approved alcohol programs, and potential jail time. In addition, a DUI conviction stays on your DMV record for at least 10 years, and may result in higher insurance premiums. State statutes define which persons are under the original jurisdiction of the juvenile court. Most states define the upper age of juvenile court jurisdiction in delinquency matters as 17.

02/15/2026

Crimigration assistance: Is anyone handling habeas petitions or other relief for persons taken into ICE custody?

12/09/2025

𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

𝘈 𝘧𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢’𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦-𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴.

In March 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court ruled in Duncan v. Bonta to uphold California’s prohibition on large-capacity am******on magazines. The decision found that the law does not violate the Second Amendment and reaffirmed the state’s authority to regulate fi****ms in the interest of public safety.

The ban, which applies to magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds, was first enacted in 2000 and later strengthened through voter initiatives and legislation. This most recent ruling reversed a lower court’s decision that found the ban unconstitutional, citing the Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen as precedent for considering the nation’s historical fi***rm traditions. The Ninth Circuit, however, emphasized that public safety and modern regulatory needs could still justify such limits.

Supporters of the ruling argue that limiting magazine capacity helps reduce casualties in mass shootings and supports law enforcement’s ability to respond effectively to violent incidents. They note that large-capacity magazines have been disproportionately used in high-profile mass shootings, making their regulation a matter of urgency. Opponents, including gun rights advocacy groups, argue that the ban criminalizes law-abiding citizens and fails to address the root causes of gun violence.

If you own or are charged with possessing a high-capacity magazine, it’s important to understand how this ruling affects you. Consult with a fi****ms attorney to ensure you remain in compliance with state law. This case may yet reach the Supreme Court, so staying informed is essential.

12/02/2025

𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞: 𝐒𝐁 𝟒𝟖𝟑 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬

SB 483 is a bill that provides retroactive relief and is time-sensitive. It declares that certain enhancements and priors imposed before recent changes in the law to be legally invalid. This means that individuals who have been sentenced with these enhancements in the past can now have their sentences reevaluated and potentially reduced.

Prison-prior enhancements are used to increase the sentence of an individual who has previously served time in prison. HS 11370.1 is a statute that provides for a three-year sentence enhancement for certain drug offenses. Both of these enhancements have been used in the past to increase sentences, sometimes resulting in excessively long sentences that do not reflect the severity of the crime.

Under SB 483, the CDCR and Counties are required to identify all individuals who are serving a sentence that includes one or both of these enhancements and notify the sentencing court. The court must then recall and resentence those individuals to remove the invalid enhancements. The deadline for the court to complete this process is October 1, 2022, for those currently serving time on the enhancement, and December 31, 2023, for everyone else.

Additionally, the bill requires the appointment of counsel for all individuals subject to resentencing, ensuring that they have legal representation throughout the process. This is important because it can be challenging for individuals to navigate the legal system on their own, especially in cases where their sentences are being reconsidered.

Overall, SB 483 is an important piece of legislation that provides an opportunity for individuals who have been subject to excessive sentences to have their cases reevaluated and potentially reduced. It is an example of the ongoing efforts to reform the criminal justice system and ensure that sentences are fair and just.

11/25/2025

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐟𝐭

𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸.

In response to a surge in organized retail theft, California has enacted new laws in 2025 aimed at curbing these crimes. Assembly Bill 2943 criminalizes the possession of stolen goods valued over $950 with the intent to sell, exchange, or return them, even if the individual did not personally commit the theft.

Additionally, Senate Bill 1144 requires online marketplaces to implement policies prohibiting the sale of stolen goods, establish mechanisms for reporting such sales, and notify law enforcement if they suspect a seller is dealing in stolen merchandise.

These measures aim to dismantle the infrastructure supporting organized retail theft rings. However, they also raise concerns about potential overreach and the implications for individuals unknowingly involved in such activities. If you’re facing charges related to retail theft, it’s imperative to consult with a criminal defense attorney to understand your rights and options under these new law

11/18/2025

𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞: 𝐒𝐁 𝟖𝟏 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬

SB 81 is a new law that changes how enhancements are handled in criminal cases. Enhancements are additional punishments that can be added to a sentence based on specific circumstances, such as the use of a weapon or the commission of a crime while on probation.

Under the new law, when a court is considering an enhancement, they must consider evidence offered by the defendant that establishes the presence of mitigating circumstances. These circumstances include factors such as a disparate racial impact, the connection of the current offense to mental illness or prior victimization, or a prior juvenile adjudication that triggers the enhancement. If the court finds that any of these factors are present, it “weighs greatly in favor” of dismissing the enhancement, unless there is a likelihood that the defendant would cause physical injury or serious danger to others.

In addition, the new law provides specific circumstances in which enhancements must be dismissed. These circumstances include cases where multiple enhancements are alleged in a single case, where the application of an enhancement could result in a sentence of over 20 years, or where the enhancement is based on a prior conviction that is over five years old. If a fi***rm was used in the current offense, but it was inoperable or unloaded, the enhancement will also be dismissed.

It’s important to note that this new law is not retroactive, meaning it only applies to cases going forward and not to cases that have already been decided. If you are currently facing criminal charges and an enhancement is being considered, it’s important to talk to a lawyer who can help you understand how this new law might impact your case.

11/11/2025

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘭𝘢𝘸, 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺.

Senate Bill 731, effective January 1, 2023, marks a major step forward in California’s efforts to reduce barriers faced by individuals with criminal records. The bill expands the scope of record sealing to include many felony convictions, offering new hope to thousands seeking employment, housing, and other opportunities.

Under SB 731, individuals who complete their sentences and remain arrest-free for four years may have their records automatically sealed, provided their offenses are not among those specifically excluded (such as serious s*x crimes). This law complements prior efforts to automate expungement for misdemeanors and low-level felonies under AB 1076.

Sealed records are hidden from public view, though they may still be accessible to law enforcement and certain licensing boards. The change is particularly impactful for people who have turned their lives around but continue to face discrimination due to past mistakes.

Applying for record sealing may still be necessary in some cases, especially for offenses not covered by automatic provisions. An attorney can help determine your eligibility and file the appropriate motion. If you’re ready to move forward in life, record sealing could be the key to a clean slate.

11/04/2025

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞

𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘦𝘹 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 16 𝘢𝘯𝘥 17, 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

In May 2025, the California Assembly approved legislation increasing penalties for adults who solicit s*x from minors aged 16 and 17. The updated law allows felony charges for individuals significantly older than the minor, with exceptions for cases where the age difference is three years or less.

This amendment addresses previous legal gaps that treated such offenses more leniently, aiming to provide stronger protections for minors against s*xual exploitation. The law also introduces a victim support fund and increases penalties for businesses complicit in s*x trafficking.

If you’re facing allegations involving communication with a minor, it’s crucial to seek experienced legal counsel. Understanding the nuances of this law can significantly impact the outcome of your case and help protect your rights.

10/28/2025

𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬: 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘙𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

The California Racial Justice Act (CRJA) of 2020 prohibits the state from seeking or securing a criminal conviction or imposing a sentence based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. The law empowers defendants to challenge their case at any stage—including pretrial, sentencing, or post-conviction—if they can demonstrate discriminatory intent or significant statistical disparities in treatment compared to other racial or ethnic groups.

A key provision of the CRJA allows for the use of statewide or local statistical data to show systemic bias. For example, a defendant could argue that people of a certain race are disproportionately sentenced to prison for the same offense compared to other groups. The law also considers biased language by attorneys, judges, or expert witnesses as potential evidence.

Recent applications of the law have resulted in overturned convictions and reduced sentences, particularly in cases where historical patterns of discrimination were identified. The CRJA has also influenced prosecutorial decisions, with some district attorneys revisiting prior convictions under this lens.

If you believe your case was influenced by racial bias, legal help is available. An attorney familiar with the CRJA can help gather evidence, present a motion, and potentially secure a more equitable outcome.

10/21/2025

𝐇𝐁𝐎 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯,” 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘏𝘉𝘖 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢’𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘴. 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.

HBO’s latest docuseries, The Mortician, shines a spotlight on David Sconce and the Lamb Funeral Home scandal that shocked California in the 1980s. Sconce, who operated the family-run mortuary business in Pasadena, was exposed for carrying out illegal mass cremations, deceiving families, and even engaging in unauthorized sales of human remains to medical institutions.

The series revisits how investigators uncovered that Sconce was cremating multiple bodies at once in a single oven to save on costs—sometimes over 30 at a time—and returning co-mingled ashes to grieving families. He was also linked to a murder-for-hire scheme and a series of forged documents. These revelations led to outrage and prompted major regulatory reforms across the funeral services industry in California.

The scandal underscored significant gaps in oversight and accountability in the mortuary profession. Following public outcry, California enacted legislation requiring stricter licensing requirements, more frequent inspections, and greater transparency in crematory practices.

Even decades later, the Sconce case serves as a cautionary tale about what can go wrong when trust is abused in sensitive industries. If you have concerns about a funeral provider’s practices, or suspect unethical handling of remains, legal avenues exist. Consult with an attorney experienced in mortuary law to explore your rights.

10/14/2025

𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞: 𝐀𝐁 𝟑𝟑𝟑 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐝

AB 333 is a new law that changes how gang enhancements are used in criminal cases. It removes looting, vandalism, and identity theft from the list of crimes that can be used to prove a pattern of criminal gang activity. This means that just because someone commits one of these crimes, it does not automatically mean they are part of a gang.

The new law also changes the definition of “criminal street gang.” To be considered a criminal street gang, it must be proven that members of the gang collectively engage in a pattern of criminal gang activity. This means that it’s not enough to just prove that an individual committed a crime; there must be evidence that the gang as a whole is involved in criminal activity.

Finally, the new law requires that if a defendant is charged with a gang-related offense and other offenses that do not require proof of gang activity, the charges must be separated into two parts, or “bifurcated.” This means that the gang-related charge will be heard separately from the other charges. This is important because it can be harder to defend against a charge that includes gang enhancements, and separating the charges can make it easier for the defendant to get a fair trial.

Overall, AB 333 is a new law that changes how gang enhancements are used in criminal cases. It makes it harder to prove that someone is part of a gang just because they commit certain crimes, and requires evidence that the gang as a whole is involved in criminal activity. It also requires that gang-related charges be separated from other charges, so that defendants can have a fair trial. If you’re facing gang-related charges, it’s important to talk to a lawyer who can help you understand your rights and navigate the legal system.

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