Venice Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have been arrested, charged, or contacted by police in Venice, the decisions you make in the next 24 to 72 hours often shape the rest of the case. This page covers what Venice residents and visitors should know about local criminal procedure, common charges, courthouse routing, and what to do right now.

Where Venice criminal cases are heard

Venice criminal cases typically route to Airport Courthouse for criminal matters. The specific courtroom depends on the charge type (misdemeanor vs. felony), the arresting agency, and the booking location. The arraignment notice on your booking paperwork or release form will list the courthouse and date.

Common Venice criminal cases

Beach community with a steady DUI caseload from PCH/Washington Boulevard stops, plus drug possession and disturbing the peace charges along the boardwalk. Each charge type has its own statute, its own defense playbook, and its own exposure profile. Misdemeanor charges generally carry up to one year in county jail; felony charges carry state prison exposure depending on the section charged.

The first 10 days matter, especially for DUI

If you were arrested for DUI in Venice, you have only 10 calendar days from the date of arrest to request a DMV Administrative Per Se hearing. Missing that 10-day window means automatic license suspension on day 30. The DMV process is separate from the criminal case in court. Both proceedings can produce different outcomes. The DMV hearing is the only opportunity to challenge the license suspension before it takes effect.

For non-DUI cases, the 10-day clock does not apply, but early defense work (preserving witness contact, pulling body camera footage, locating surveillance video before retention cycles wipe it) is often time-sensitive.

What to do right now

Three things matter most in the first 72 hours after a Venice criminal arrest. Do not give a recorded statement to detectives without an attorney present. Anything you say is evidence. Preserve every piece of paper you received during booking and release: the citation or charge sheet, the booking paperwork, the property receipt, and any release agreement. Contact a defense attorney before the arraignment.

If you were arrested for DUI, the 10-day DMV deadline is the most urgent piece. After that, the criminal case follows its own timeline, with arraignment usually within 24 to 48 hours of in-custody booking, or within several weeks for cite-and-release matters.

Common charges and statutes

The most common criminal charges seen in Venice cases include: Vehicle Code section 23152(a) and (b) for DUI; Penal Code sections 484 and 487 for petty theft and grand theft; Penal Code section 240 and 242 for assault and battery; Penal Code section 243(e)(1) for domestic battery; Penal Code section 11377 for controlled substance possession; and Penal Code section 459 for burglary. Each section has its own elements, its own defense angles, and its own sentencing range.

Related pages

• Los Angeles County DUI Defense
• Theft Crimes Defense
• Assault and Battery Defense (PC § 240, 245)
• Domestic Violence Defense (PC § 273.5)
• Drug Crime Defense
• Probation Violation Defense
• Pre-Filing Intervention
• Criminal Defense FAQ

The Law Office of Zak Fisher is a Los Angeles criminal defense practice. This page is general legal information for Venice criminal cases, not legal advice for any specific matter. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case. No attorney-client relationship is formed without a signed engagement letter. Attorney Advertising. Zak Fisher, Esq., California Bar No. 332712.