McDowell & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys

09/12/2022

04/14/2018

Is this going too far or just a convenient way to help people keep on track?

Engineers have developed a tiny, ultra-low power chip that could be injected just under the surface of the skin for continuous, long-term alcohol monitoring. The chip is powered wirelessly by a wearable device such as a smartwatch or patch. The goal of this work is to develop a convenient, routine m...

04/07/2018

In a legislative hearing packed with criminal justice experts and former youth offenders, California lawmakers pushed forward a bill this week to keep minors who commit crimes out of adult courts.

03/30/2018

Most lawyers won't even know about this decision because it involved an obscure court procedural rule.

02/28/2018

The California Supreme Court decided 4-3 Monday that minors may not be sentenced to 50 years or longer in prison for r**e and so**my.

02/11/2018

Something to remember. You have the right to remain silent. USE IT! And never agree to a search. Don't do the cop's job for them.

Do you know what your rights are when a police officer asks to search you? If you’re like most people I’ve met in my eight years working to educate the public on this topic, then you probably don’t. It’s a subject that a lot of people think they understand, but too often our perception of po...

12/02/2017

Our lead attorney, Lonnie McDowell, in San Diego representing couple accused of over 90 counts of fraud over a failed business venture.

10/27/2017

A review of not only our prison system, but also the bail system is long overdue. Hopefully, this review of the manner bail is imposed is a first step in restructuring the system to ensure justice is for everyone, not just for those who can pay.
Law Enforcement is strongly against bail reform. They say it's because they are concerned for public safety. But a more sinister, self-serving reason is people accused of a crime who are not in prison pre-trial are less likely to take bad plea deals just to get out. Deals that have consequences that effect them long after they go home.

More than 200,000 bail bonds are posted in California each year, generating $308 million in non-refundable premium fees from accused…

10/14/2017

On World Day Against the Death Penalty, Sir Richard Branson, makes some great points. While more and more countries abolished the death penalty this year, three others are contemplating reinstating death as the ultimate punishment. Meanwhile, the US still continues to be the only Western country that still executes its citizens.

Today, 10 October, is the World Day Against the Death Penalty. 141 countries, more than ever before, have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice, and to me, that’s certainly a cause for celebration. Richard Branson Abolition Award from Death Penalty Focus Image by Hugh Williams But today…

10/05/2017

I want to thank all of my clients and other attorneys who participated in the selection process. I greatly appreciate the trust you placed in our firm.

09/14/2017