Arezou Bakhtjou

Arezoulaw: Criminal Defense Practice

Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney Fighting for Fair Treatment

As founder of ArezouLaw, Arezou Bakhtjou brings decades of criminal defense experience to clients facing charges throughout California. Her unique perspective—having served as both an indigent defense attorney and a private criminal defense lawyer—combined with her understanding of law enforcement and prosecutorial practices and systemic failures and biases, makes her exceptionally effective at defending those accused of crimes.

Criminal Defense Philosophy

Arezou Bakhtjou’s criminal defense practice is guided by a fundamental principle: everyone deserves equal treatment under the law, regardless of background, circumstances, or the nature of allegations.

She has witnessed how discretionary prosecution and unequal enforcement harm not only crime victims but also those unfairly targeted, overcharged, or unjustly accused. ArezouLaw ensures the scales of justice remain balanced by holding law enforcement and prosecutors accountable to constitutional standards and due process requirements.

Areas of Criminal Defense Practice

ArezouLaw represents clients charged with a wide range of criminal offenses, including:

Property Crimes

• Trespass (PC 602) – Criminal trespass, aggravated trespass, refusing to leave
• Vandalism (PC 594) – Graffiti, property damage, malicious mischief
• Burglary (PC 459)- Residential and commercial burglary charges

Privacy & Technology Crimes

• Stalking (PC 646.9) – Criminal stalking, cyberstalking
• Surveillance, Eavesdropping – Illegal surveillance, voyeurism
• Illegal Recording (PC 632) – Eavesdropping, wiretapping violations
• Invasion of Privacy (PC 647(j)) – Unauthorized recording, privacy violations

DUI & Traffic Offenses

• DUI (VC 23152) – Misdemeanor and felony DUI
• Wet Reckless (VC23103/23103.5) – Reduced DUI charges
• DUI with Injury (VC23153) – Felony DUI causing bodily harm
• License Suspension Hearings – DMV administrative hearings

Elder Abuse & Vulnerable Victims

• Elder Abuse (PC 368) – Physical abuse, financial exploitation, neglect
• Dependent Adult Abuse – Abuse of disabled or dependent adults

Assault & Violent Crimes

• Assault (PC 240) – Simple assault, aggravated assault
• Battery (PC 242) – Misdemeanor and felony battery
• Domestic Violence (PC 273.5) – Spousal abuse, domestic battery
• Criminal Threats (PC 422) – Terrorist threats

Drug Offenses

• Drug Possession (H&S 11350) – Controlled substance possession
• Drug Sales (H&S 11351) – Possession with intent to sell
• Drug Paraphernalia (H&S 11364) – Possession of drug paraphernalia

White Collar Crimes

• Fraud – Wire fraud, identity theft, credit card fraud
• Embezzlement – Employee theft, financial crimes
• Forgery – Document fraud, check fraud

Juvenile Defense

• Juvenile Court Representation – Delinquency proceedings
• Juvenile Record Sealing – Expungement and record sealing

Criminal Defense Experience

Indigent Defense Background

Arezou Bakhtjou served for over a decade as an indigent defense attorney, representing clients who could not afford private counsel. This experience provided deep insight into how the criminal justice system treats marginalized defendants and how law enforcement and prosecutorial discretion disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations.

Juvenile Defense

As a dedicated juvenile defense attorney, Arezou has represented young people in delinquency proceedings, understanding the unique considerations and rehabilitation focus necessary in juvenile court.

Private Practice

Through ArezouLaw, Arezou provides private criminal defense representation, bringing her extensive public defense experience to clients seeking knowledgeable advocacy.

Why Choose ArezouLaw for Criminal Defense

✓ Decades of Criminal Defense Experience
Over ten years representing clients in California criminal courts at all levels

✓ Insider Knowledge of Law Enforcement and Prosecutorial Practices
Deep understanding of how prosecutors make charging decisions and discretionary determinations and practices of police and prosecutors

✓ Constitutional Rights Protection
Aggressive defense of Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment, and Sixth Amendment rights

✓ Negotiation Skills
Effective plea negotiation when resolution serves client interests

✓ Compassionate Client Service
Understanding that criminal charges impact entire families and futures

✓ Commitment to Equal Justice
Fighting against discriminatory enforcement and unequal police and prosecution practices

Criminal Defense Approach

At ArezouLaw, every case receives:

Thorough Investigation

Comprehensive review of police reports, evidence, witness statements, and procedural compliance

Strategic Defense Planning

Customized defense strategies based on case facts and client goals

Motion Practice

Suppression motions, Pitchess motions, and other pre-trial challenges

Plea Negotiation

Skilled negotiation for charge reductions, alternative sentencing, and favorable dispositions

Sentencing Advocacy

Mitigation presentation for reduced sentences and alternative programs

Post-Conviction Relief

Appeals, expungements, record sealing, and sentence modifications

Holding Police and Prosecutors Accountable

As both a criminal defense attorney and victim advocate, Arezou Bakhtjou uniquely understands how police and prosecutorial discretion can be misused both against defendants and victims:

• Overcharging defendants to coerce plea agreements
• Selective police and prosecution practices based on bias or improper factors
• Dismissing victim cases while aggressively prosecuting similar conduct by others
• Unequal enforcement creating two-tiered justice systems

ArezouLaw challenges these practices through aggressive defense, constitutional challenges, and public accountability advocacy.

Contact ArezouLaw for Criminal Defense

Criminal Defense Consultations | Case Evaluation | Court Representation

📧 Email: ArezouLaw@gmail.com
📱 Phone: 949-216-0628
🌐 Website: www.ArezouLaw.com

Free initial consultation for criminal defense matters.

Dual Expertise: Unique Perspective

Arezou’s dual practice—criminal defense through ArezouLaw and victim advocacy through Your Defenders—provides a comprehensive understanding of California’s criminal justice system from all angles. This perspective allows her to:

• Recognize when defendants are unfairly targeted while victims are ignored
• Identify police and prosecutorial bias affecting both charging decisions and case dismissals
• Challenge unequal application of laws
• Advocate for systemic reforms that ensure equal justice for all

Whether you’re a crime victim failed by the system or a defendant facing unjust charges, Arezou Bakhtjou fights for equal treatment under the law.

Legal Expertise and Professional Background

Arezou Bakhtjou brings decades of legal experience to both her criminal defense and victim advocacy work.

Investigative Journalism Skills: As founder of ArezouLaw and a dedicated legal and investigative journalist, Arezou reports on California’s criminal justice system with focus on discretionary police and prosecutorial practices and systemic issues affecting both crime victims and those unequally charged or overcharged.

Her investigative work exposes institutional failures, documents patterns of abuse and bias, and creates public accountability pressure.

This combined professional expertise and personal experience makes Arezou uniquely positioned to advocate effectively for individuals unequally charged with crimes, unjustly overcharged, and victims failed by systems that promise equal treatment.

Leadership and Recognition

Arezou’s commitment to justice extends beyond individual representation to systemic reform leadership:

Board Service

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice:

• Two terms as Governor, Board of Directors
• Two terms on the Legislative Executive Committee

California Lawyers Association:

• Five years on the Solo and Small Law Firm Executive Committee

Alameda County Bar Association:

• Five years on the Criminal Law Executive Committee

Judicial Appointment Evaluation Committee:

• Two terms serving on the Judicial Appointment Evaluation Committee, collaborating with California’s Governor’s office to evaluate and appoint judicial candidates to the bench

Recognition

• Certificate of Appreciation from the American Bar Association Women in Criminal Justice Task Force

Speaking Engagements

Arezou regularly speaks before bar associations, advocacy organizations, and legislative committees on critical issues including bias in the legal system, police and prosecutorial accountability, victims’ rights, and criminal justice reform.

Bar associations that have invited Arezou to speak include:

• American Bar Association Women in Criminal Justice Task Force
• American Immigration Lawyers Association Santa Clara Valley Chapter
• Iranian Lawyers in North America
• Riverside County Bar Association
• Southwest Riverside County Bar Association
• California Lawyers Association

A Personal Commitment to Justice

What drives Arezou’s tireless work is simple: she knows what it feels like to be failed by the system.

She understands the destructive re-traumatization and continued victimization when the very institutions paid to protect embolden aggressors and enable targeted patterns of terror and manipulation.

She also knows that change is necessary, and through collective power, there will be accountability and justice.

Through Your Defenders, Arezou provides the advocacy, accountability, and systemic reform she wished existed when the emboldened aggressors who subjected her and her family to ongoing crimes continued to target and re-traumatize their victims thanks to the discretionary practices of the very institutions that are to serve and are to treat everyone and all crimes equally. Through ArezouLaw, she ensures the accused receive the vigorous defense necessary to check police and prosecutorial power and enforce constitutional rights.

Every client she defends, every institutional failure she exposes, every institution she investigates and advocates for audit and oversight over, and every legislative reform she achieves represents her unwavering commitment to ensuring equal justice under the law.

Credentials and Expertise

✓ Criminal Defense Attorney (California)
✓ Indigent Defense Attorney (over 10 years)
✓ Juvenile Defense Attorney
✓ Legal and Investigative Journalist
✓ Founder, ArezouLaw (Criminal Defense Law Firm)
✓ Founder, Your Defenders (Advocacy Initiative)
✓ Legislative Activist specializing in criminal justice reform
✓ Board Member, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Judicial Appointment Evaluation Committee, California Lawyers Association

Languages

• English (Fluent)
• Farsi/Persian (Fluent)

“Whether you’re a victim failed by the system or accused by it, you deserve equal treatment under the law. That’s what I fight for.”
— Arezou Bakhtjou

Contact Information

For Criminal Defense:

ArezouLaw
📧 ArezouLaw@gmail.com
📱 949-216-0628
🌐 ArezouLaw.com

Criminal defense consultations, case evaluation, court representation