For the state to successfully prosecute charges against an individual, there needs to be adequate evidence of misconduct. Prosecutors largely rely on investigative agencies and police departments to gather adequate evidence to bring charges against someone and secure...
Having law enforcement search your vehicle can be a stressful and confusing experience. And not all searches are conducted legally. Understanding the boundaries between legal and illegal searches is crucial in protecting your rights. The Fourth Amendment The Fourth...
When immigrants are charged with crimes, they often worry about getting deported. The actual criminal charges may be secondary. They are worried about being removed from the United States, where they have a family, where they have been attending school or where they...
Plea deals, also known as plea bargains, have come to play a massive role in the handling of criminal cases in the United States. Very few criminal cases make it to trial these days, as most are settled by a plea deal before they get there. Yet, despite their...
Most people have some passing familiarity with the concept of a plea bargain. Typically, these deals involve the defendant agreeing to plead guilty in exchange for reduced charges or a favorable sentencing recommendation, ultimately mitigating the consequences of...
People facing a criminal charge often want to know what sentence they’ll face if they’re convicted. Typically, this risk is relayed in a range of sentence possibilities based on factors such as the judge’s history with similar cases, sentencing guidelines and several...
The standardized field sobriety test (SFST) is a battery of three tests used by police officers in the United States to determine whether a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. It provides a fairly consistent method for law enforcement to assess impairment. The...
If the police have a search warrant, then they are allowed to enter your property. The warrant may restrict them in some ways, such as saying they can only go into a specific part of your property, that they can only carry out the search at a certain time, or that...
Marriage fraud is a serious crime involving misrepresentation or deceit to obtain immigration benefits through marriage. It occurs when potential immigrants get a sham marriage with a U.S. citizen or green card holder for the purpose of getting permanent residence....
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects individuals from self-incrimination. It's a fundamental right that helps ensure a person cannot be compelled to testify against themselves in a criminal case. This protection extends to various legal...