Fullerton Criminal Defense Lawyer

Fullerton arrest process

Fullerton’s Police Department has a standard booking process, with photographing, fingerprinting and the ability to make a phone call under California PC 851.5.

Our Fullerton law firm can help you or your loved one navigate the jail and court systems while helping fight the criminal charges against you.

Jail

• Fullerton City Jail is located at 273 W Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832. To speak with the jail supervisor, call (714) 738-6722.  This jail is used to temporarily hold inmates before release or transfer to an Orange County Jail.
• You can find inmates in Orange County jail custody by using the OC Sheriff’s Department online search tool.
• The Fullerton City Jail offers an alternative sentencing “Pay-to-Stay” program that costs $126 for processing and $127 each day. The program is offered to men that have been convicted of a misdemeanor, non-violent crime.
• Pay-to-Stay programs allow inmates to be housed separately from other inmates and minimizes contact with non-sentenced inmates. The program requires approval and will require inmates to assist with light chores during their day.

⤓ Download Fullerton Pay-to-Stay Application

Bail

• Bail for Fullerton inmates are set by judges based on this bail schedule.
• You may be released if the prosecutor doesn’t file charges, or you post bail. Otherwise, you will remain in jail until law enforcement transports you to court for the arraignment. Prosecutors usually have 48 hours to file charges.

Court

• Fullerton criminal cases are heard at the North Justice Center at 1275 N Berkeley Ave, Fullerton, CA. You can contact the court by calling (657) 622-5600.
• Fullerton criminal cases are prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney Fullerton Office.

About North Justice Center

North Justice Center is one of eight Orange County Superior Court locations. This Fullerton court has 18 courtrooms and an average of over 2,500 visitors per day at:

NORTH JUSTICE CENTER
1275 N Berkeley Ave
Fullerton, CA 92683
(657) 622-8459 (criminal operations)
Google Map

Courtrooms: You can locate your courtroom on this Fullerton courthouse floorplan.

Cities: North Justice Center court serves the cities of Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, La Habra, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Placentia, Stanton and Yorba Linda.

Matters handled: traffic, minor offenses, criminal, warrants, limited civil and small claims

Court process: The steps in Fullerton court criminal cases are explained here.

Judges: Information about North Justice Center judges can be found here.

Misdemeanor and felony charges and penalties

Criminal charges can have very serious consequences if convicted. Penalties vary widely depending on your charge, case facts and prior record.

• Misdemeanor. A misdemeanor carries a punishment of up to 364 days in jail, a fine or both. These crimes may include theft (property worth $950 or less), simple assault or possession of some drugs for personal use. If you have the intent to distribute, a drug crime can be classified as a felony.
• Felony. A felony may include incarceration in a state prison from 1 year up to life. Low-level felonies may result in incarceration in jail rather than prison. Certain crimes are considered “wobblers,” meaning that they may be classified as a misdemeanor or felony. Sexual battery is considered a wobbler because the penalty may be several years of incarceration or less than 364 days in county jail, depending on the severity of the crime.

Immigration consequences of criminal charges

Foreign citizens can face immigration consequences in addition to the criminal penalties. For example, permanent resident green card holders, international F1 visa students and other visa holders can face deportation for crimes. Non-US citizens should speak with our criminal immigration lawyer if arrested for an alleged crime.

When you speak with our Orange County misdemeanor lawyer to discuss the details of your case, we will be able to explain the charges against you and penalties that you face.

Fullerton bail bond tips

Bail bond requirements can be a major burden to overcome in your case. For example, many felony charges can have bail bond requirements of $50,000, $100,000 or more. See the Fullerton bail bond schedule.

Standard bail bond contract fees are typically 10% of the bail amount, if you qualify. So for a $100,000 bond, you’d pay a fee of $10,000.

It is usually very important that you get out of jail to participate in building your defense and ensure the allegation doesn’t ruin your job or impact your family.

How we help with bail

Our Fullerton lawyer can help you with bail in 3 ways:

1. We can work to convince the judge that you should be released on your own recognizance, an “O.R. release” with no bail.
2. There are also times when bail is set too high and can put an unreasonable hardship on you. Our attorneys can argue for a more reasonable bail and discuss the hardship it would put on you and your family if bail is not reduced.
3. We can refer you to a bail bondsman that offers our clients a low 7% fee. That is 30% lower than the standard bail bond fee. That could save you $3,000 in the $100,000 bail example (7% fee would be $7,000, instead of $10,000).

The goal of bail is to allow you to be released from jail and provide an incentive for you to show up for your court appearance. If you do not show up for court or violate a condition of bail, you will be arrested and the bail forfeited.

Get help from a Fullerton criminal lawyer

If you or a loved one are facing criminal charges, we are here to help 24 hours a day. Give us a call today at (949) 750-2500 for a FREE consultation. 

Chudnovsky Law is located at 23 Corporate Plaza Drive, Suite 150, Newport Beach, CA 92660. We are near North Justice Center, Fullerton and Anaheim. You can call us at (949) 750-2500, we are open 24 hours. We represent clients throughout Fullerton and all of Orange County, CA.

Getting to Chudnovsky Law from Fullerton is easy, just follow these simple driving directions. First, take CA-91 E, then merge onto CA-57 S toward Santa Ana. Take CA-57S, then merge onto I-5 S/Santa Ana. Take I-5 S, then merge onto CA-55 S/State Rte 55 S toward Newport Beach. Take CA-55 S, then merge onto CA-73 S toward San Diego. Take CA-73 S to MacArthur Blvd. Exit MacArthur Blvd toward Newport Beach. Continue on MacArthur Blvd, turn right on San Miguel Dr. Then make an immediate left onto Avocado Ave. Continue on Avocado Ave, turn R into Corporate Plaza, then turn L on Corporate Plaza Drive. Chudnovsky Law will be on your right.

Frequently asked questions

What should you do if you’re arrested?

Do not make statements without your lawyer present. Don’t mention your case in jail, and don’t appear in court on your own. The initial actions you take when you’re arrested can have a lasting impact on your case.

Learn more about what to do if you’re arrested →

How do plea bargains work?

Plea bargains help with jail overcrowding, save defendants time and money and help reduce caseloads. A plea bargain is an agreement between you and the prosecutor that will reduce your sentence or lower the charges against you.

A plea bargain may be in your best interest, or it may not. The best Fullerton criminal defense attorneys will be able to help you determine if you should even consider a plea bargain and, if so, negotiate the most favorable terms possible.

What are the consequences of a convictions?

You may suffer from loss of privileges, such as house arrest, probation or imprisonment. Immigrants may be deported, and it can be more difficult to obtain a job in the future if you’re convicted. Government workers may be let go, or they may be put on other duties until the case is closed.

If convicted, jail or prison time may follow. Getting a job after an arrest is more difficult, and you may not be able to return to your job, depending on what profession you’re in. Those with professional licenses like nurses, medical doctors, attorneys and financial advisors can lose their license and need to hire a professional license defense attorney.

Disclaimer

This information does not constitute legal advice. No representations are made as to its accuracy and appropriate legal counsel should be consulted before taking any actions. Contact us to see if Chudnovsky Law is the best Fullerton criminal defense attorney for you.

We represent clients throughout Orange County and the following Fullerton, CA zip codes: 90621, 90631, 92801, 92831, 92832, 92833, 92834, 92835, 92836, 92837 and 92838.

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Written by Tsion Chudnovsky and David Stein