The city of East Palo Alto (E.P.A.) is located in San Mateo County, California and has a population of 28,155 based on the 2010 Census. Due to its name, East Palo Alto is often mistaken to be part of the charter city, Palo Alto, which is in Santa Clara County. Contrary to the city’s name, East Palo Alto is actually situated in the direct north of the aforementioned charter city.

While E.P.A. does have a considerably lower property crime rate of 29.4% compared to the national average of 35.4%, the city has a significantly higher violent crime rate — 35.6% against the US average of 22.7%. The city is also cited by the neighborhood analytics website and database, NeighborhoodScout, as having one of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the US.

As of January 2020, East Palo Alto Police started investigating the city’s first homicide of 2020 after a fatal shooting on the 900 block of Mouton Circle. Additionally, two East Palo Alto residents were booked into jail on suspicion of vandalism, auto burglary, and possession of burglary tools.

If you are a victim of any crime, it’s important to know your legal options and the resources at your disposal in East Palo Alto. There are a couple of law libraries you can visit in the adjacent areas if you wish to do some legal research such as the San Mateo County Law Library and Robert Crown Law Library. You can also make use of LegalMatch’s extensive Law Library which contains over 10,000 law articles.

If you’re short on funds and are in need of legal aid and/or representation, there are a handful of non-profit organizations and law firms that provide pro bono legal services to low-income families and individuals in East Palo Alto. The “Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto” specializes in immigration, real estate, and juvenile law. Stanford Community Law Clinic covers employment, housing, and workers’ rights cases.

With these organizations offering free legal services, you still need to undergo strict screening, and wait for available lawyers to assist you. If you’re dealing with an urgent legal issue, it’s always worth the cost to hire a knowledgeable lawyer to aid you with your particular case.

Getting the right lawyer that specializes in your type of case can improve the outcome of your legal issue while also giving you peace of mind. Through LegalMatch, you can easily find a qualified and experienced lawyer for your specific legal concern.