State and federal laws define parental abduction as a non-custodial parent’s refusal to return a child after a lawful visit. Parental kidnapping is illegal in every state, and state courts usually prosecute the abductor. However, if a child abduction case involves...

Whether exaggerated or fabricated, many “dumb law” lists that circulate online are highly entertaining but, sadly, short on fact. However, it is true that there are some rather unusual laws still on the books. From old statutes made for a different time to modern city...

Being a successful medical professional is a complicated endeavor nowadays. Not only must physicians have subject matter expertise, but they must also comply with an ever-changing framework of laws, regulations and rules. Like anyone else, doctors may face criminal...

Under the Three Strikes law in California, offenders convicted of a second felony after a previous violent or serious felony conviction can receive twice the mandatory minimum prison sentence. A person who receives a third felony conviction must serve at least 25...

Most people in California likely assume that in order for authorities to prosecute them for a crime, they actually have to have committed a crime. Yet news stories often describe people facing criminal charges with terms like "attempted" or "conspiracy to." This means...

One of the cornerstones of the American criminal justice system is the right of the accused to receive a fair and impartial adjudication of their case. There may be times, however, where circumstances do not allow for this to happen in the specific area that...

As personal drones become more popular, federal and state authorities are looking for ways to monitor their use and keep the public safe. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides guidelines and a legal framework for drone...

Probation is a provision that allows the court to release a person convicted of a crime into the community under the supervision of a probation officer. The release is conditional and revocable. In other words, the individual on probation must comply with the terms...

Parental kidnapping is a common term for cases where a non-custodial parent refuses to return a child after the end of a lawful visit. However, it can also refer to a situation in which a custodial parent does not allow the non-custodial parent to have visits. Review...

When you bring a prohibited item to the airport, you may experience delays to your travel plans and delay the plans of other travelers. Depending on the prohibited item, you may also have to pay a fine and law enforcement may even arrest you. While federal law...