California Expands Identity Theft Law

California Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger recently signed into law SB 612 which makes it easier to prosecute identity theft crimes in California. Under the old system, prosecutions could only take place where the crime occurred, which is usually in the perpetrators' towns or cities. With the passage of this bill, prosecutors can now charge people with identity theft in the jurisdictions where the victims live. This is significant because prosecutors are generally more aggressive when they're fighting criminals in their home town.