California has several criminal laws in place to combat gang violence and activities.

According to CNN, Southern California is one of the areas in the country with the largest number of gang members.

Under California laws, there are several ways for people to get busted for gang crimes, even if you aren't a gang member.

Attorney General Kamala Harris plans to appeal the Ninth Circuit's ruling that requires counties to grant law-abiding residents permits to carry concealed weapons.

If the federal appellate court's decision isn't overturned, then sheriffs in California may be obligated to issue concealed weapon permits simply because the applicant requests it, according to the Bay Area News Group.

What will the attorney general's appeal likely discuss? And what are the current concealed gun laws in California?

Los Angeles residents know better than anyone just how bad traffic can be, but can your road rage land you in jail?

Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County has been awarded the title of most congested freeway in California, according to The Associated Press. Congratulations? With heavy delays and gridlock, even the most Zen person might consider taking their anger out on their fellow drivers.

However, consider using deep breathing methods instead of lashing out because your road rage can land get you into serious legal trouble.

In light of Justin Bieber's recent DUI arrest and those arguing for his deportation, what crimes can get legal immigrants deported?

Like Bieber, who's allegedly in the States on an O-1 performer's visa, the Los Angeles Times reports, other non-citizens who are lawfully in the country could face immigration issues if they commit a crime here.

People convicted of the seven following types of crime may face deportation as well as be prevented from re-entering the country:

California rang in the new year with more than 800 new laws. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, the new laws of 2014 span a wide variety of legal issues. In the context of criminal law alone, the issues range from age requirements on texting while driving to an entirely new parole hearing process for juveniles.

Here are five standouts of the new criminal laws:

Hate crime is down in Los Angeles County by 6% in 2012, from 2011. According to a report released by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, this is actually LA County's second-lowest level of hate crime activity in the past 23 years, with the most violent year being fairly recent -- in 2011, reports the Los Angeles Times.

While there has been progress, the study reveals that there is still plenty of work to be done. What other important results were reported? Here's a general overview of hate crime in LA.

The Los Angeles Police Department will soon have access to a new smartphone app called "JusticeMobile," reports ABC News.  Developed by Attorney General Kamala Harris, the San Francisco Police Department, and various technology companies, the app is funded by federal, state, and local governments.

According to Harris, about 600 San Francisco police officers have already used the app. In addition, more than 3,600 Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers will soon begin using an updated version of the app.

What is JusticeMobile, exactly? Here's a general overview:

Leaving kids in hot cars can lead to unintended and incredibly tragic consequences.

With temperatures in California soaring into the 90s, a car's interior can heat up to 135 degrees or higher, and prove fatal to a small child .

As the temperature continues to rise, so does the risk of vehicular hyperthermia, or heat stroke -- especially for a child left inside a hot vehicle.

For that very reason, it's illegal in California to leave a child in a hot car.

California allows its prisoners certain privileges that can allow them to love, marry, and start families, all while serving their time.

Here are the laws and policies that allow convicts to keep the fire alive in their marriages and grow their families:

HIV infections have somewhat declined due to the increasing success of medicating those living with HIV and redoubled efforts for sex education, yet Los Angeles is still troubled by new HIV infections every day.

According to a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health study published in March, Los Angeles County comprised more than a third of the reported new cases of HIV infection in California in 2011.

Because of this great public health concern, California laws require that HIV infection be reported in some cases, and for intentional exposure to be punished.