quick reference chart and notes for determining immigration - ILRC
quick reference chart and notes for determining immigration - ILRC
quick reference chart and notes for determining immigration - ILRC
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Cali<strong>for</strong>nia Quick Reference Chart <strong>and</strong> Notes<br />
February 2010<br />
§ N.14 Safer Pleas:<br />
A Summary of Better Pleas <strong>and</strong> Why They Work<br />
Legal Summaries to Provide to Defendants 203<br />
(See also Tooby, Rollin, Safe Havens at www.criminal<strong>and</strong><strong>immigration</strong>law.com)<br />
A. All-Purpose Substitute Pleas: Accessory after the Fact, Solicitation, Not Aiding <strong>and</strong> Abetting<br />
1. Accessory after the Fact<br />
2. Solicitation <strong>and</strong> its Limits<br />
3. Aiding <strong>and</strong> Abetting is Not a Safe Plea<br />
B. Safer Pleas <strong>for</strong> Violent or Sexual Offenses<br />
1. Persuading a witness not to file a complaint, PC § 136.1(b)<br />
2. False imprisonment, PC § 236<br />
3. Annoying or Molesting a Child<br />
4. Simple battery, spousal battery, PC §§ 243(a), 243(e)<br />
5. Consensual Sex with a Minor, PC § 261.5(c), to some extent § 261.5(d), <strong>and</strong> similar offenses<br />
6. Misdemeanor sexual battery under PC § 243.4<br />
7. Assault with a Deadly Weapon under PC § 245<br />
8. Battery with serious bodily injury, PC § 243(d)<br />
C. Safer Pleas <strong>for</strong> DUI <strong>and</strong> Negligence/Recklessness that Risks Injury<br />
D. Safer Pleas <strong>for</strong> Offenses Related to Firearms or Explosives<br />
1. Manufacture, possession of firearm, other weapon, PC § 12020(a)<br />
2. Assault with a firearm or other weapon, PC § 245(a)<br />
E. Safer pleas <strong>for</strong> offenses relating to fraud, theft, receipt of stolen property, or burglary<br />
1. False personation, PC § 529(3)<br />
2. Joyriding, Veh. Code § 10851(a)<br />
3. Burglary of a Non-Dwelling with Intent to Commit Certain Offenses, PC § 460(b)<br />
4. Plead to theft instead of fraud, or create a plea agreement that specifies less than a $10,000 loss to the<br />
victim—plus other measures<br />
5. Receipt of Stolen Property is not categorically a CMT<br />
F. Safer Pleas <strong>for</strong> Offenses Related to Drugs<br />
G. Safer Pleas <strong>for</strong> Obstruction of Justice (Defenses Relating to P.C. §§ 32 <strong>and</strong> 136.1(b) with a One-Year Sentence<br />
Imposed)<br />
H. Moral Turpitude <strong>and</strong> Matter of Silva-Trevino: Defense Strategies<br />
I. Dispositions that Avoid a “Conviction”<br />
J. Sentence of 364 Days or Less<br />
K. Is your client a U.S. citizen or national without knowing it?<br />
Introduction. This section offers a brief explanation of proposed safer offenses. For<br />
further discussion see works listed at § N.17 Resources. Some of the analyses below have been<br />
affirmed in published opinions, while others are the opinion of the authors as to how courts<br />
might be likely to rule. A plea to the offenses below will give immigrant defendants a greater<br />
chance to preserve or obtain lawful status in the United States. However, almost no criminal<br />
conviction is entirely safe from <strong>immigration</strong> consequences, which is why this section is entitled<br />
“safer” not “safe” alternatives.<br />
203 Special thanks to Norton Tooby <strong>and</strong> Michael Mehr, who have identified several potential safer offenses.<br />
N-120 Immigrant Legal Resource Center