Murder Charges in California

Get Representation from a Bakersfield Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are accused of murder, you are facing one of the most serious and heavily penalized violent crimes in the entirety of California law. Murder is a homicide crime, which means it involves taking the life of someone else. However, unlike other homicide charges, murder involves both malicious intent and forethought of your actions. This means murder charges can often carry some of the most serious penalties in the entire criminal justice system.

If you or a loved one have been charged with murder, you will likely want to do everything in your power to fight back against the immense consequences that could occur. At Campbell Whitten, we can battle any criminal charges you may be facing aggressively and effectively to help you obtain your goal: a “not guilty” verdict. Our Bakersfield criminal defense lawyers work harder than anyone for our clients, and we use every possible piece of evidence and every available avenue to help you combat your charges effectively. We never treat your case as though it were just a number in our file; we understand how important it is to you and your life, and we take a team approach to effectively fight for justice on your behalf.

Penalties for Murder in California

Murder is always considered a felony charge, meaning you will face immense penalties if you are convicted. The most common penalty for first-degree murder is a minimum of 25 years in prison, but odds are your prosecution will likely push for a life sentence. If you are convicted of first-degree murder based on a “hate crime,” then you will be imprisoned for life without the possibility of parole.

Capital murder is the most serious murder charge, including special circumstances such as murder for financial gain, murdering more than one victim, murdering a witness to prevent testifying, and over 20 total situations. If you are convicted, not only will you face the possibility of life in prison without parole, but you may even be given the death penalty.