There’s a reason that “I’ll be Home for Christmas” plays practically on repeat during the holiday season – it’s a wish that we all have. It’s so special to be able to gather with family and friends to open presents and spend quality time together away from the hubbub of everyday life. But if you’re facing a criminal charge, that dream may feel like it’s slipping away. It might even feel impossible, but it’s not.

Free case evaluation with Attorney Howell

Come speak with Attorney Torrence L. Howell about your situation today. He’ll evaluate the charge(s) against you, your criminal history, and the details of your case, and honestly tell you what the best course of action is in your case.

Don’t accept conviction as inevitable

There’s no reason to just accept that you’ll be away from your loved ones for Christmas. When you hire Attorney Howell to represent you in your criminal case, you’ll dramatically increase the likelihood of reaching a successful outcome in your case and being home with your family for Christmas.

Simple or complex legal matters

Attorney Howell has decades of experience working on both straight-forward cases as well as the most complex ones. He won’t be phased by anything you throw at him—he’s truly seen it all over the years.

He specializes in the following areas of criminal defense law:

• Assault and battery
• Burglary
• Child abuse
• Drug charges
• DUI defense
• Elder abuse
• Embezzlement
• Expungement
• Forgery
• Fraud
• Guns & other weapons charges
• Juvenile crime
• Sexual assault
• Stalking
• Vehicular manslaughter

Schedule your appointment now

There’s no time to waste—Christmas is just around the corner. As a prospective client, you’re entitled to a free initial appointment with Attorney Howell. Schedule yours today by calling 909-920-0908 or emailing torrence@torrencelhowelllaw.com.

After your complimentary case evaluation with Attorney Howell, you’ll feel so much more at peace about your situation. You’ll know what your options are and what the most likely outcome of your case is so you’ll be able to plan accordingly.

Bring the merry back in Christmas

Enjoy this holiday season without nearly as much stress when Attorney Howell represents you and gives you legal counsel throughout your criminal case. He’s Southern California’s favorite criminal defense attorney, and he would be proud to fight for your rights today.

We at Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell often get questions about bail. This blog post has been designed to answer many of the most pressing questions about bail. If you have other questions, feel free to contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell to schedule a free initial consultation about your case. Attorney Howell will be happy to speak with you about your specific case and offer you expert legal advice right away.

What is bail?

First, let’s start with the basics. Bail is money that some criminal defendants must pay to ensure they will return to court procedures if they are released from jail while their cases are pending. A judge determines the amount of money that a defendant must pay based on the type of crime committed, whether the defendant has previous arrests, and the probability that the defendant might move away or hide to attempt to avoid attending required court procedures.

The judge sets the bail amount, then while the trial is in progress, the defendant deposits the money with the court clerk or with a bail bond company. When the case is finished, the bail money is returned, but if the defendant is convicted, some of the money will be deducted by the court first.

What if a defendant can’t pay bail?

If someone has been arrested and he or she can’t pay the bail money and can’t find someone to put up the bond on the arrestee’s behalf, then he or she must remain in jail until the next court date. In most cases, the next court date will be within a few days. So if someone chooses not to post bail, it’s not terrible—but no one likes to spend time in jail if they can help it.

How is bail posted?

California law requires that judges provide at least two ways of posting bail. Frequently, the court will indicate that bail should be posted in cash or as an insurance company bail bond. The bond amount will often be higher than the cash value one because courts realize that bond companies generally accept much less than 100% of the face value of the bond as security.

If you’re interested in posting a bail bond, you will need to contact a bail bondsman that’s licensed in California. When you call Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell at 909-920-0908 for a free consultation about your case, we can put you in touch with a reliable bail bondsman so you can post bail and get out of police custody ASAP.

What to do ASAP

If you get arrested, either contact Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell at 909-920-0908 as soon as possible, or ask a friend of family member to contact us on your behalf. We will help you understand the bail posting process and assist you with every legal aspect of your defense. Attorney Howell is one of Southern California’s must trusted criminal defense attorneys—get him on your side today by calling 909-920-0908 or emailing torrence@torrencelhowelllaw.com.

According to a NowThis media video published by the Huffington Post, and this article by NBC News, the largest ever one-time release of federal prisoners will occur this Friday–Monday, October 30–November 2. All of those who will be released have been convicted of drug offenses.

This is happening because the U.S. Sentencing Commission changed sentencing guidelines for drug crimes last year, and finally they are now being put into effect. The changes in the guidelines allowed thousands of prisoners’ sentences to be reduced, allowing many to be released ahead of time.

Over 6,000 federal inmates will be released during these 3 days. Most inmates who have applies for retroactive sentencing will have their sentences reduced by about 23 months, which lowers the average sentence for drug offenders from 131 months to 108 months.

Progressive steps to makes sentences more reasonable

This development follows a trend that we’ve seen throughout the nation and particularly here in California, with the passage of Proposition 47. Sentences are becoming less harsh, there’s a renewed focus on rehabilitation measures, and there’s a reluctance to continue spending so many taxpayer dollars on locking up nonviolent prisoners. Just one federal inmate costs American taxpayers about $21,000 per year, and the U.S. incarcerates a much larger percentage of its population than any other developed country.

People want to see prisoners being rehabilitated and integrated back into society, not just harshly condemned for the rest of their lives. Even President Obama has taken a stand on this issue, condemning harsh sentencing practices and inspiring Americans to take another look at and strive to improve the current criminal justice system approach.

What do you think of this mass release?

This momentous release has spurred plenty of debate among politicians, the general public, and everyone who works and has been effected by the criminal justice system in this country. What do you think of it? Do you think it’s a positive step in the right direction, or a risky move to allow these people who have been convicted of drug crimes back into society?

If you or a loved one has spent any time behind bars—or has a current criminal case pending that might put him or her in jail—you know that sending people to jail isn’t always the best solution. The “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” mentality just doesn’t fly anymore—and the government is finally responding to this by reducing sentences.

Take advantage today

One thing is for sure, if you’re dealing with a criminal case right now, you’ll want to capitalize on this trend of less-harsh sentencing as much as possible. The best way to do this is by hiring Southern California’s best criminal defense lawyer, Torrence L. Howell. Call 909-920-0908 or email torrence@torrencelhowelllaw.com to schedule a complimentary consultation with him today.

Are you looking for a criminal defense attorney in Orange county? Consider Attorney Torrence L. Howell. Whether you’re a person of interest in a crime or have already been arrested, it’s imperative that you contact Orange county’s best criminal defense attorney as soon as you become aware that a criminal charge might be headed your way.

Criminal defense expert

Attorney Howell specializes in many areas of criminal law in the area of Orange county, California. He has over 31 years of experience successfully defending people in Orange, Riverside, Upland, and the surrounding areas. He specializes in defending people from the following charges:

• Assault and battery
• Burglary
• Child abuse
• Drug charges
• DUI
• Elder abuse
• Embezzlement
• Forgery
• Fraud
• Guns and other weapons charges
• Sexual assault
• Stalking
• Vehicular manslaughter

Minor defense as well

He’s also worked on many juvenile cases in Orange county, so if you’re under 18, you can also count on Attorney Howell to represent you tenaciously throughout your case. Special circumstances often apply to juvenile cases, and Attorney Howell knows all the nuances of the juvenile criminal justice system. He will use this knowledge to your favor and secure the lightest possible penalty so you can move on with your life.

Proposition 47

In addition, he has successfully petitioned the California court system to expunge various criminal records of his clients, including cases that were positively affected by Proposition 47. This Proposition, which passed California voters in November 2014, has transformed many criminal records, downgrading thousands of charges from felonies to misdemeanors. Imagine how different your life could be without felony charges on your record, and thoughtfully consider enlisting Attorney Howell’s expertise to get them expunged.

Who is Attorney Howell?

Attorney Howell passed the California and the U.S. District Court Central District of California bar exams in 1995. He has been in private practice for 31 years. and practices law in courts for the San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange counties. Serving his clients is his top priority, and he looks forward to serving many more in Orange county and beyond in the coming years. His goal in every case is always to achieve the most auspicious outcome.

Want to know more?

To find out more about Attorney Howell, his practice, and how he could serve you in your criminal case in Orange county, please schedule a complimentary initial consultation by calling 909-920-0908, emailing torrence@torrencelhowelllaw.com, or by using the online form at the bottom of this article. Whether you just have a quick question, would like to come in to discuss your case with Attorney Howell personally, or have a question about Howell’s expertise, feel free to contact our office today. Attorney Howell and his staff will be glad to assist you!

Have you been arrested recently? Then you definitely need to get a lawyer ASAP. Having a lawyer on your side can equal tremendous benefits right away. For example, an excellent lawyer can negotiate to decrease your bail amount or eliminate the need to pay completely. It’s also important that you procure a lawyer before you are arraigned so he or she can advise you on which plea you should enter. He or she can also let you know what you can expect in terms of sentencing minimums and maximums so you can be prepared in case you are convicted of the crime in question.

According to the Constitution, everyone in the US who has been charged with a crime is entitled to legal representation. A lawyer will be appointed for you by the court in which your case is brought if you don’t hire a private one. This court-appointed lawyer is called a public defender.

Pros of using a public defender

The benefits of using a public defender are obvious—the main one being that you don’t have to pay to have legal representation. You can exercise your legal right to an attorney without dipping into your savings or going into debt to defend yourself. All public defenders have attended and graduated from law school, and have passed the same examinations as private attorneys. So they are fully qualified to defend you.

Cons of using a public defender

One drawback of going with the public defender is that he or she usually has an enormous case load and even with the best intentions to serve you well, there simple won’t be enough time to devote lots of personalized attention to each case. Public defenders are paid by the government, not by clients, so they don’t have a real financial incentive to offer provide superb legal service.

Pros of using a private attorney

But if you decide to go with a private attorney, such as Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell, you’ll be able to rest assured that he will devote copious amounts of energy and time into defending you in the most effective way possible. He also treats every single one of his clients with the utmost respect and courtesy, cultivating a sense of mutual trust as he defends your case.

You’ll get the legal advice and representation you need, and possibly avoid having a felony or misdemeanor charge added to your permanent record. Law Offices of Torrence L. Howell can also negotiate with the prosecution and the judge to lower the required amount of prison time and fines—giving you more freedom and financial security. Now that’s just priceless!

Cons of using a private attorney

One of the potential cons of going with Attorney Howell is that he will require payment for his services. After all, he has to make a living! But the pros of going with Attorney Howell greatly outweigh the cons, especially since he will likely save you thousands of dollars in fines.

Contact info

Still on the fence, or are you ready to get started with Attorney Howell? Either way, schedule a free case evaluation with Attorney Howell today by calling 909-920-0908 or emailing torrence@torrencelhowelllaw.com.