Anyone accused of a criminal offense in theory has the right to legal representation. However, not every lawyer will provide the same caliber of legal support. Often, criminal defendants have an uphill battle in the court system, especially if their attorney juggles...
A lot of convictions are made because there is an overwhelming amount of evidence against a defendant. However, many trials only have the word of witness testimonies and the defendant. It can often take many eyewitness stories to align or the defendant confesses to...
Maybe you got arrested for drug possession, or perhaps you face a nonviolent offense that directly relates to your substance abuse issues. The criminal consequences of such offenses include prison sentences and large fines, as well as probation or community service....
When the general public thinks about forensic science, they usually imagine television shows. They have this idea of the investigative team walking into the crime scene, quickly gathering very important evidence, putting all the pieces together and figuring out...
Alcohol is a known disinhibitor. It doesn't necessarily change your personality entirely, but it will free you to do things that you might otherwise recognize as inappropriate. When you have had too much to drink, you might lose control of your temper and get into a...
The Supreme Court helps evaluate legal matters and clarify the federal stance on crucial issues. It was a Supreme Court ruling decades ago that gave rise to the Miranda warning. Named for the defendant in a case that made it all the way to the Supreme court, the...
If you or someone you know has a mental illness, you know the fine line that you’re walking when you excuse behaviors that took place when someone was mentally ill. Many people can and do make good decisions in their lives despite mental illnesses, so is it really...
People often trust eyewitnesses in criminal trials. Say you've been accused of assault and you claim that you weren't even there. The prosecution produces a witness who claims that they saw you at the scene and that you were the one who committed the assault. In a...
If you were to take your information from movies and prime time television, you would probably assume that cutting-edge forensic science solves every major criminal case. In reality, forensic science is not nearly as dramatic or reliable as the media would make it...
When you have to defend yourself against charges, it’s important that you have the right team on your side. An effective attorney can make a big difference between facing harsh penalties and having charges dropped or altered in a way that could benefit you. What makes...