Shouse Law Group

Our team of California criminal lawyers includes several former prosecutors and former career police officers. Together with our private detectives and forensic experts, we work as a team, drawing on more than half a century of law enforcement experience.

We know firsthand how cops and district attorneys put together cases. We used to be in their shoes. We have the playbook. Now we use this insider knowledge to your advantage in fighting your criminal charges.

An Aggressive, Proactive Approach to all Cases

Some California criminal defense lawyers take a wait-and-see approach. They stall until the first court date, or until they receive the police reports, before investigating and working up your case.

By contrast, we believe there’s no time to waste. The most critical window for defense work may be the first few days following an arrest, or even prior to formal charges being filed. By getting to work immediately, often we can locate favorable defense evidence and witnesses, and get a “head start” towards defeating the charges.

Private Defense Investigation by Former Police

Make no mistake. Cops concern themselves mainly with aiding the prosecution and building up a criminal case against you. They should not be relied upon to gather favorable evidence that helps exonerate their suspect. To put it simply: they are not on your side.

Our private defense investigators are former career police officers. But now their job is to find evidence that will benefit you. We assign them

• to re-interview and locate witnesses,
• to canvass neighborhoods,
• to obtain surveillance footage,
• to do background checks on key prosecution witnesses, and
• to locate evidence to corroborate our client’s version of the events.

Knowing the Local Courts

Every county and every courthouse has its own way of doing things. The criminal court process in Los Angeles County, for example, differs significantly from the process in San Bernardino. But even within San Bernardino County, the procedures at the central courthouse vary considerably from Rancho Cucamonga or Victorville.

We assign each of our California criminal defense attorneys to a specific set of courthouses. By working day in and day out in the same places, we develop trusting relationships with

• judges,
• prosecutors,
• probation officers and
• court staff.

Moreover, we know how things work in particular courtrooms and with particular prosecuting agencies. We have learned

• whom to talk to,
• who has discretion, and
• the most effective ways to get the job done.

Close Personal Contact with Your Attorney

Facing criminal charges traumatizes people. Nothing compounds the stress more than the inability to reach your attorney.

At the Shouse Law Group, we put a premium on the accessibility of our criminal defense lawyers and support staff. We are here to provide moral and emotional support as well as legal representation. To do this, we observe two policies:

• Every client phone call, email, or text is returned the same day; and
• Every client gets the personal cell phone number of his/her attorney and the lawyer’s assistant

Early Intervention Before Charges Get Filed

Sometimes it’s possible to stop criminal charges from being filed in the first place.

After making an arrest or investigating a suspected crime, the police take their evidence to the district attorney’s office. The D.A. evaluates the potential case and decides what criminal charges (if any) to file. Usually, the prosecutor makes this decision based solely on what the police are telling them. But often there is much more to the story.

Many times our California criminal lawyers can also meet with the D.A. during this same time period. We can present

• our witness statements,
• our evidence, and
• our information.

Knowing your side of the story may affect the D.A.’s calculations. When the prosecutors see the whole picture, not just what the police (or the alleged “victim”) have to say, they may decide to file lesser charges (a misdemeanor rather than a felony, for example) or not to file criminal charges at all so you remain out of the criminal justice system completely (we call this a “D.A. Reject”).

Legal “Second Opinions”

Perhaps you already have a criminal defense lawyer. Your case has been pending for a while. Your attorney advises you on a certain case strategy, such as accepting the D.A.’s offer or taking the case to trial. Now you face a major life decision. And you are just not sure what to do.

We can evaluate your case and offer our independent judgment as to your various options and the merits of each. Much like a patient may see another doctor for a “second opinion” before deciding whether to undergo elective surgery, we can give you a legal second opinion.

In the end, we may concur with your present attorney’s position. Or we may not. Or we may suggest a totally different approach. But our advice to you will be

• unbiased,
• independent,
• looking only to your best interests, and
• based on a careful analysis of all the facts and law.

Bail Release Help

If your loved one is in custody, our California criminal defense attorneys can often arrange a “bail hearing” to get bail reduced or to secure an “OR release.” We assist inmates in custody at any of the state’s jails, including the Twin Towers Jail, the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail, the Orange County Central Jail, the Ventura County Jail, the West Valley Detention Center, the Robert Presley Riverside County Jail and the Clark County Detention Center (Las Vegas Jail).

Our California attorneys like to start every case the same way: By listening. We sit down with you (and your witnesses) to hear exactly what happened. The police and the accusers are going to have their stories. We will be presenting yours. So we want to start by hearing and understanding your side of it. Call us or email us to schedule a free consultation to see if we are the right criminal defense team for you.

We have local criminal law offices in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Irvine, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Palm Springs, Pasadena, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Torrance, Van Nuys, Ventura, West Covina, and elsewhere throughout northern, central, and southern California. Read our criminal defense blog.

Please contact our Las Vegas Nevada criminal defense attorneys and trial lawyers and Las Vegas DUI lawyers for cases anywhere in Nevada. Our Denver Colorado criminal defense lawyers defend clients throughout Colorado. Our California personal injury attorneys, dog bite lawyers and car accident lawyers can assist with any type of injury or mass tort case, including a hernia mesh lawsuit. Our California employment law attorneys represent workers who have been wrongfully terminated or unfairly treated by their employers.

Shouse Law Group is accredited by the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.

¿Habla español? Visite nuestro sitio Web en español sobre nuestros abogados de la defensa penal de California.