The Most Common Criminal Charges in Orange: How Our City Compares Nationally

Orange is one of Orange County’s most community-centered, historic cities. By all accounts, it feels safe. But that doesn’t mean it’s immune to crime, and even good people can find themselves in legal trouble.

Whether you’re a long-time resident, a student, or just visiting, understanding the most common local charges helps you stay informed. Manshoory Law Group breaks down the frequent criminal charges in Orange and how they stack up against state and national trends, because knowing the local landscape can make all the difference.

What Criminal Statistics Say About Orange

So, how safe is Orange? While some analyses show Orange’s violent crime rates are comparable to the national average, the most important statistic is your personal risk. According to recent FBI data, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in the city is just 1 in 466.

The picture for property crime, however, is more complex. Data shows that property crime rates in Orange track at or above the national average, and all sources confirm that your overall chance of becoming a victim of any crime is about 1 in 50.

The real takeaway is that property crime is a much more common concern than violence. This is the key to understanding the city’s legal landscape. The risks for an average resident are less about random physical attacks and more about situations involving theft, shoplifting, or vandalism. This fact directly shapes the kinds of criminal charges we see most often.

Orange vs. National Averages: How Do We Compare?

Orange’s crime rates are well below U.S. and California averages, reinforcing its safe reputation. But if the city is so safe, what’s behind these specific crimes? It comes down to Orange’s three core personalities: it’s a major traffic hub, a shopping mecca, and a college town.

• DUIs: The city is surrounded by some of the busiest freeways in the country: the 5, 55, and 22 freeways. Add in the nightlife around Old Towne and the huge crowds for events at the Honda Center and Angel Stadium, and you have a perfect storm for DUI patrols, especially on feeder streets like Katella Ave.
• Theft: Orange is a premier shopping hub. The Outlets at Orange and The Village at Orange attract millions of shoppers annually. With that much retail activity, accusations of shoplifting and even employee theft are statistically inevitable.
• Juvenile/Underage Crimes: The presence of Chapman University and several large high schools creates a large population of young people. This leads to a natural increase in specific charges like underage drinking, using a fake ID, and minor drug offenses like possession of marijuana or unprescribed study aids.

But here’s the thing: these patterns don’t make the city unsafe. Far from it. They simply show how the city’s character influences which laws are broken and enforced most often.

Common Charges We Defend in Orange County

At Manshoory Law Group, our experience reflects these trends. We know the laws, but more importantly, we know the local situations that give rise to these common accusations.

• DUI Charges (VC 23152) A DUI is the most common serious charge ordinary residents face. A conviction brings court penalties like fines and classes, plus a separate, mandatory license suspension from the DMV. A solid defense involves challenging every part of the state’s case, from the legality of the traffic stop to the chemical test’s accuracy.
• Theft & Shoplifting (PC 484 & PC 459.5) Most theft charges we defend are for shoplifting. The law distinguishes between petty theft (under $950) and grand theft (over $950). For first-time offenders, especially in low-value cases, we often successfully negotiate for diversion programs that result in a full dismissal, keeping your record completely clean.
• Drug Offenses (HS 11350 & HS 11377) These cases rarely involve major trafficking. More often, it’s simple possession of a controlled substance—like cocaine, mushrooms, or unprescribed pills such as Xanax or Vicodin—discovered during a traffic stop. The defense often comes down to fighting the legality of the police search. If the search was illegal, the evidence can be thrown out.
• Domestic Violence (PC 273.5) This is one of the most aggressively prosecuted crimes. An accusation alone is often enough to trigger an arrest and a temporary restraining order (TRO) that can force you from your home. Police are required to make an arrest if any injury is present. These cases are won or lost on the details, so having a domestic violence attorney involved from the start is critical.
• Assault & Battery (PC 240/PC 242) Reflecting the city’s low violent crime rate, most of these cases involve “simple” assault or battery. They are typically misdemeanors stemming from arguments that got out of hand. However, any violent crime conviction can have lasting consequences, making a strong defense essential.
• Juvenile Charges (WIC 602) We frequently represent students from local schools, including Chapman. The juvenile system’s goal is rehabilitation, not punishment. Our focus is always on securing outcomes like diversion or deferred entry of judgment to protect a young person’s future from being defined by one mistake.
• Expungements (PC 1203.4) A past criminal conviction shouldn’t be a life sentence. An expungement cleans your record, allowing you to legally answer “no” on most job applications when asked about past convictions. It’s a powerful tool for anyone trying to move forward in a competitive county like Orange.

Why Local Legal Experience Matters in Orange Criminal Cases

If you’re arrested in Orange, your case goes to the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana. Navigating this courthouse is a non-negotiable part of a strong defense. An attorney unfamiliar with it won’t understand the unwritten rules or have relationships with the specific prosecutors who handle cases from Orange.

You need an Orange criminal defense lawyer familiar with the Orange County DA’s office—one who knows their filing policies and negotiation tactics. This insider knowledge helps us build strategies tailored to the actual people who will be handling your case.

One of our most effective strategies is pre-file intervention. This means we contact the District Attorney’s office before formal charges are filed. By presenting our side of the story, witness statements, or exculpatory evidence early, we can sometimes convince them to reject the case entirely or file a lesser charge. This proactive step can end a case before it ever really begins.

Why Orange Clients Choose Manshoory Law Group

When your future is on the line, you need a law firm that understands both the law and the stakes. Here’s why clients in Orange trust us:

• 24/7 legal support available
• Former prosecutor on your side
• 10+ years of courtroom experience
• Multilingual legal team
• Personalized, results-driven legal plans
• Local reputation and knowledge of Orange County courts

Visit Our Orange Office

We are centrally located and easy to access. Walk-ins are welcome, or you can book a secure virtual consultation. Getting legal help shouldn’t add to your stress.

FAQs About Criminal Charges in Orange

What types of arrests are most common in Orange?

Mostly, it's DUIs, shoplifting, and charges related to college life. With all the major freeways and event venues, DUI stops are incredibly frequent. Because of The Outlets, theft is common. And with a major university in town, you'll see charges for things like using a fake ID or underage drinking.

Do I have to appear in court if I'm charged in Orange?

For most misdemeanors, you probably won't have to. We can almost always go to court for you so you don't have to rearrange your life or miss work. For a felony, though, the answer is yes—the court requires you to be there in person.

Can my charge be reduced or dismissed?

Yes. That is always the main goal. A good lawyer's job is to pick apart the prosecutor's case from every angle. We hunt for holes—was the police stop even legal? Was evidence mishandled? Finding those weak spots is exactly how we get charges dropped or knocked down to something less serious.

How fast do cases move in Orange County courts?

Arrested in Orange? Contact Us Today.

Don’t let a criminal charge define your future. An accusation is not a conviction. But what happens next—in the first few hours—can change everything. Call us. We get to work right away.

References:

California Legislature. (1872). Penal Code – PEN §240. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=240.

California Legislature. (1872). Penal Code – PEN §242. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=242.

California Legislature. (2001). Penal Code – PEN §484. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=484.

California Legislature. (2014). Penal Code – PEN §459.5. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=459.5.&lawCode=PEN.

California Legislature. (2017). Vehicle Code – VEH §23152. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=23152.

California Legislature. (2018). Health and Safety Code – HSC §11350. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=11350.

California Legislature. (2018). Health and Safety Code – HSC §11377. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=11377.

California Legislature. (2019). Welfare and Institutions Code – WIC §602. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=WIC&sectionNum=602.

California Legislature. (2023). Penal Code – PEN §1203.4. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=1203.4.

California Legislature. (2025). Penal Code – PEN §273.5. California Legislative Information. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&sectionNum=273.5.

NeighborhoodScout. (2025). Orange, CA Crime Rates. https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ca/orange/crime.

Superior Court of California, County of Orange. (2025). Central Justice Center. https://www.occourts.org/location/central-justice-center.