When Protective Orders Hide Evidence, Families Pay the Price
In California, protective orders are increasingly misused, restricting parents’ access to evidence in criminal cases, thus affecting their ability to defend themselves in custody disputes. The trend disproportionately impacts marginalized parents and…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 26, 2025
Official San Diego CAD logs for the May 1 and September 4, 2025 incidents classify them as civil assists with no criminal implications. Despite Los Angeles County filing kidnapping charges against Giselle Smiel, San Diego's records confirm no crime…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 16, 2025
Newly acquired documents disclose that California's Child Abduction Units (CAUs) receive over $9.9 million in state funding to enforce custody laws, straddling civil and criminal domains with significant discretion. The findings call for enhanced…
Inside People v. Smiel: When Process Becomes the Story
Giselle Smiel faces five felony charges, including kidnapping, after picking up her child at a San Diego school. Her defense argues that the charges lack legal basis due to improper venue and insufficient evidence. Concerns about ADA violations and a…