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Murder and Manslaughter Defense

Palm Springs, California, Murder Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with murder or a related homicide crime in the federal or state court, you have a right to vigorous, effective defense. At the Dolan Law Offices, we understand what it means to be charged with murder or manslaughter. It means that you already have public opinion against you. It also means that prosecutors would rather consider you guilty while they ignore your rights. We don't let them. Attorney John Patrick Dolan has received the AV rating* and is a California Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist with more than 30 years of criminal defense experience in the courtroom. We believe in your right to a vigorous defense that protects your rights and your future.

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Free consultation about your murder or manslaughter charges

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Contact us right away for a free consultation about how to proceed with an aggressive defense. Make sure that you have the right attorney at your side before you say anything else that may be used against you. The Dolan Law Offices, in Indio, California, provides legal advice and representation for residents of the Palm Springs region and communities throughout Riverside County.

Murder and Manslaughter

In California, criminal homicides are separated into two categories, murder and manslaughter. Each of these, in turn, is divided into additional categories. If you have been charged with murder or manslaughter, make sure that you understand the law and know your rights. Please have a family member or friend contact the Dolan Law Offices today.

First degree murder
A defendant may be found guilty of first degree murder if they maliciously and intentionally killed a human being and it is demonstrated that the killing was willful, premeditated, and deliberate. A person charged with murder in the first degree may be facing life in prison and should seek the counsel of an experienced attorney, such as John Patrick Dolan, immediately.

First degree murder with "special circumstances"
In California, first Degree murder with “special circumstances” is the highest level homicide offense. The special circumstances that may constitute this charge are enumerated under California Penal Code section 190.2. If a jury finds a defendant guilty of first degree murder with special circumstances (e.g. murder of a police officer, murder involving torture, among others), then they could be facing the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Second degree murder
A defendant may be found guilty of murder in the second degree if the killing resulted from an intentional act that was deliberately performed with the knowledge that it could be dangerous to human life. If the killing was the direct result of such an action, it isn’t necessary to prove that the accused actually intended to commit homicide.

Voluntary manslaughter
A defendant may be found guilty of voluntary manslaughter if certain mitigating circumstances were present when they intended to kill. For example, if the defendant was provoked to kill, or if they honestly but unreasonably believed they needed to use lethal force to defend their self .

Involuntary manslaughter
If an individual’s criminally negligent behavior results in homicide, they may be charged and found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.

Vehicular manslaughter
An individual who has taken the life another while operating a vehicle such as a car, motorcycle or boat may be charged with vehicular manslaughter.

We'll stand by you

If you have been charged with murder or manslaughter, we know that things don't look very good for you or your family from where you are sitting right now. We won't tell you not to worry. We will tell you that we will stand firmly by your side throughout the entire process, fighting to help you get the best possible outcome for your murder charges.

We use a variety of professional resources to investigate your charges to determine whether murder charges can be reduced to manslaughter, based on legal options such as self-defense or justifiable homicide. Individuals accused of violent crimes are typically those most in need of these constitutional safeguards, as emotion and character evidence is often used to taint and sway the minds of the public, the court, and the jury. At the Dolan Law Offices, we guarantee our efforts to fight for the best possible outcome for your homicide charges.

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Contact us to schedule a free jail consultation about your murder charges.

*CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies.

Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories—legal ability and general ethical standards.