Getting arrested is scary. You are cuffed, driven to county lock-up, fingerprinted, and dropped in a holding cell, usually with dozens of other offenders. Understandably, you want to do anything you can to avoid further incarceration, and therefore plea bargains offer an attractive alternative to end the process quickly and negotiate a deal that keeps you out of prison. This post will go over DUIs and howContinue reading
Category: Criminal Defense
Category: Criminal Defense
U.S. experiences spike in hate crimes
The FBI noted a significant spike in hate crime activity against Muslim Americans, 67 percent over last year and a six percent increase for all groups, in the days following the election. The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that it received more than 700 allegations of harassment and potential hate crimes in the handful of days after the election. In response, New York State isContinue reading
A review of new criminal laws that took effect in 2016, Part 1
States regularly update their laws. Illinois is no exception. Last year, Illinois passed several laws that came into force in 2016. This post will go over some of these laws and how they may affect you. Illinois passed several police reform statutes. Officers are now required to wear body cameras if their department chooses to participate in the body camera program. If officers do wear body cameras,Continue reading
What happens if you are charged with a misdemeanor?
There are three types of crimes, infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Misdemeanors are much more serious than infractions (which are like speeding or parking tickets) but not nearly as serious as felonies. This post will go over the basics of a misdemeanor and what can happen if you are faced with one. A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine (usually) and incarceration (occasionally) in a local jail. TheContinue reading
How can you be arrested?
On television, arrests appear incredibly simple. The police “talk” to the judge, get a warrant and arrest the “bad” guy. In reality, it can be that simple, but there are strict procedures the police must follow when they seek and execute an arrest warrant. This post will go over the various methods that police can use to obtain and execute a warrant. The police can arrest peopleContinue reading
Reasons why you should not speak to the police
A law professor released a book after a lecture he gave went viral warning people away from talking to the police, ever. Many people are tricked by the false narrative that police are there to find the truth. Not all police take that neutral approach to a criminal investigation. A lot of investigating officers question people to locate the perpetrator, not to eliminate innocent witnesses orContinue reading
Avoid speaking to the police
Many people take the position that if they are innocent, they have nothing to hide from the police. But this approach is dangerous because it invites police scrutiny into your life. The police officer may truly be interested in finding the truth but he or she may also be more interested in confirming a theory or allegation. Regardless, you don’t want to put your fateContinue reading
Take time to do research before you hire a defense attorney
If you are facing criminal charges, one of the first things you will need to do is hire a defense attorney. Your attorney is the handler of your case and your personal advocate. He or she will manage your plea negotiations, collect evidence and prepare your arguments. It is, therefore, imperative that you retain the right attorney to defend you. To guide you through the process of selecting the right attorney hereContinue reading
Two workers arrested in overtime fraud scheme
Two workers, formerly employed by Amtrak, were charged and arrested for a fraudulent overtime scheme which billed over 900 hours that they never worked. The case is proceeding in federal court. They have been accused of fraud on an agency receiving federal funds and theft of government property. One of the defendants worked for Amtrak for 39 years. He was investigated, and video surveillance ofContinue reading
A guide to “beyond a reasonable doubt”
The hallmark of the American justice system is that everyone is presumed innocent until the prosecutor proves otherwise. This means that the judge and jury must give you the benefit of the doubt and view the prosecutor’s arguments skeptically until they are supported with evidence. This theoretically means that you have the advantage. In a perfect system, if you believed that the prosecutor was totally wrong, youContinue reading