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RECENT NEWS

New Law: Veterans Now Eligible for DUI Diversion

By michaelfannon • August 25, 2017
On August 7, 2017, Governor Brown signed SB 725 which amends Penal Code section 1001.80 regarding veteran’s diversion by adding subdivision (l) to take effect as urgency legislation. Subdivision (l) now states: “Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 23640 of the Vehicle Code, a misdemeanor offense for which a defendant may be placed in a [..] The post New Law: Veterans Now Eligible for DUI Diversion appeared first on Ryan Birss, Attorney at Law.

Proposition 57 Update

By michaelfannon • July 26, 2017
My friend Douglas Fienberg from the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office has been carefully tracking the proposed rules for Proposition 57.  You can see the proposed rules here: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/proposition57/docs/Prop-57-Public-Comment-Regs.pdf. Here is the latest from Mr. Fienberg: There are at least four problems with the proposed regulations. First, the proposed regulations exclude people subject to indeterminate [..] The post Proposition 57 Update appeared first on Ryan Birss, Attorney at Law.

California Proposition 57: What You Need to Know

By michaelfannon • November 21, 2016
On November 8, 2016, California voters approved Proposition 57, also known as the California Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Court Trial Requirements Initiative. Here’s a brief look at what Proposition 57 means to California and its citizens. New parole opportunities for those convicted of non-violent felonies. Proposition 57 changes the time calculation for parole [..] The post California Proposition 57: What You Need to Know appeared first on Ryan Birss, Attorney at Law.

Violent Crimes

Violent crimes include assault, assault with a deadly weapon, battery, robbery, and other violent acts against a person. Because they involve injury to or the intent to injure a person, violent crimes may carry felony charges with years of imprisonment. Employers and apartments also view people with violent crime records as safety risks and may deny their applications.


Violent crime cases are often based on one of the shakiest forms of evidence — eyewitness testimony. A witness is needed to identify who was involved and exactly what happened. An apparent assault may actually have been a case of self defense.


The problem with eyewitnesses is that they often get it wrong. They might not have had as good a look as they thought they did, the police might have used a suggestive lineup, or they might not have seen the entire incident. Your criminal defense attorney’s job is to show how their memory might be incorrect and to find other holes in the story. The prosecution can’t move forward if they can’t prove what really happened.


If you were accused of a violent crime in Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Siskiyou, or Butte Counties, contact Ryan Birss to schedule a consultation today.