Our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers in Van Nuy fight to reduce or dismiss felony, misdemeanor, and infraction charges throughout the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles County. Our local law office is located at:
14500 Roscoe Blvd, Suite 400
Van Nuys, CA 91402
(818) 904-5900
Just some of the surrounding areas our criminal defense law firm serves include Arleta, Cahuenga Pass, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, Encino, Granada Hills, Lake Balboa, Lake View Terrace, Mission Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Panorama City, Reseda, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Sun Valley, Tarzana, and Woodland Hills.
Shouse California Law Group Panorama City office in Van Nuys
Experienced criminal defense in Van Nuys
Our Van Nuys criminal defense attorneys defend against every kind of case, from traffic tickets to homicide. Some of our most common cases involve such criminal offenses as:
- Auto theft (PC 487d1)
- Assault and battery (PC 242) and other violent crimes
- Domestic violence
- Drug crimes, including possession (HS 11350)
- DUI defense
- Juvenile crimes
- Robbery (PC 211)
- Sex crimes
- Theft crimes, including shoplifting
- White collar crimes
Shouse Law Group is comprised of former prosecutors and law enforcement officers who use our years of experience with the criminal justice system to fight for the best resolutions possible for our clients and to keep their criminal records clear. And our Van Nuys DUI lawyers handle not only our clients’ criminal case but also their DMV cases in an effort to save their driver’s licenses.
The Van Nuys Jail
Van Nuys is served by the LAPD‘s Van Nuys Community Police Station and Jail, also known as the Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys Station). The jail is a temporary holding facility and is located at:
6240 Sylmar Ave
Van Nuys, CA 91401
(818) 374-9500
Arrestees who cannot make bail get turned over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). People can obtain inmate information by calling (213) 473-6100 or going to the LASD’s Inmate Information Center.
Van Nuys Courthouse
Criminal cases in Van Nuys are prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and heard at the Van Nuys Courthouse West, located at:
14400 Erwin Street Mall
Van Nuys, CA 91401
(818) 989-6999
People can search for their case information here.
Criminal court process
Most people who get arrested on a criminal charge can get released from jail either on their own recognizance or by posting bail. Defendants who cannot afford bail may consider hiring a bail bondsman. Bondsmen typically charge a premium of 15% of the entire bail amount. So if bail is $1,000, the defendant would pay only $150.
The court will then schedule an arraignment, which is the formal reading of charges. Most of the time, defendants can skip the arraignment as long as they hire a private lawyer to appear for them.
Otherwise, failure to appear at a court date will cause the judge to issue a bench warrant for the defendant’s arrest. The defendant would then need to file a court motion to try to recall the warrant; and while the warrant is outstanding, the defendant could be arrested at any time, such as during a traffic stop.
Defendants who cannot afford to hire private counsel will be appointed a public defender for free. However, public defenders are extremely overworked, and they cannot devote much time to each defendant. That is why it is always recommended that defendants hire a private attorney. In practice, private attorneys can achieve better plea bargains and trial results.
The majority of cases resolve without a trial.
After the arraignment, the defense attorney and prosecutor try to negotiate a settlement. In many cases, prosecutors may agree to reduce charges just to avoid trial. And if the defense attorney can show the prosecutor that their evidence is weak, the charges could be dropped altogether.
Felony charges often take longer to resolve than misdemeanor charges. Everyone charged with a felony can have a preliminary hearing (unless the defendant was indicted by a grand jury, which is rare).
Preliminary hearings (“prelims”) are where prosecutors need to show the judge that they have enough probable cause to press charges. Prelims are valuable because they help defense attorneys see how strong or weak the state’s case is.
If the defense attorney and prosecutor cannot agree to a plea bargain (which is unusual), then the case will go to trial. If the defendant ultimately gets convicted of a crime, the court will hold a sentencing hearing. Most California crimes carry some jail time, but in many cases the judge can grant probation instead.
Call our criminal law firm for legal advice and a free consultation.
Have you or a loved one been charged with a crime? Our criminal defense and DUI lawyers create attorney-client relationships throughout the state, including Glendale, Riverside, Long Beach, Beverly Hills, Ventura, Pasadena, and elsewhere in northern, central, and southern California. Our criminal and DUI attorneys speak Spanish, and our practice areas include personal injury as well. Call today.