Blog

Restitution is designed to compensate crime victims for their losses. Learn about the kinds of expenses and people that restitution covers. By Sherilyn Streicker , While we’ve all heard the saying “crime doesn’t pay,” adding up victims’ expenses proves that it definitely costs. In the criminal justice system, there are two main mechanisms for crime… Read More

Depending on their age and experience, some children may be legally incapable of committing crime. But the modern trend is to hold virtually all minors accountable for their conduct. By Alexis Kelly Historically, children have been considered to lack the capacity to commit crime in that they don’t have the mental capacity to fully understand… Read More

Depending on their age and experience, some children may be legally incapable of committing crime. But the modern trend is to hold virtually all minors accountable for their conduct.  By Alexis Kelly , Historically, children have been considered to lack the capacity to commit crime in that they don’t have the mental capacity to fully… Read More

In some cases, a criminal defendant agrees to give up a lawsuit if the prosecution drops charges. By Michael Tarleton The Civil Rights Act of 1871 allows people to sue the government for a violation of rights at the hands of government agents. (42 U.S.C. § 1983.) For example, a victim of police brutality can… Read More

Learn what happens when the defense doesn’t get what it bargained for. By Michael Tarleton A plea bargain is an agreement between the government and a defendant. Once a judge approves it, the bargain becomes enforceable by law—it’s therefore a contract. And with any contract, each party must uphold its part of the agreement. Judicial Interference Only… Read More

What’s the difference between jurisdiction and venue? What determines where a case is heard? By Joseph Broadbent In a criminal case, “venue” refers to the county or district where a case will be decided.Jurisdiction is a related, but broader concept. It refers to the legal authority to hear a case. Venue, on the other hand, refers… Read More

There are limits to the ways police officers can act while enforcing a warrant. By Ave Mince-Didier When the police knock on your door, you typically don’t have to let them in unless they have a search warrant signed by a judge. But even if they do have a warrant, they can’t act however they… Read More

There are limits to the ways police officers can act while enforcing a warrant. By Ave Mince-Didier When the police knock on your door, you typically don’t have to let them in unless they have a search warrant signed by a judge. But even if they do have a warrant, they can’t act however they… Read More

Moving cases along, and making sure that there’s room in the jails and prisons for truly bad actors, are two reasons why plea bargaining is part of the system. For judges, the primary incentive to accept plea bargains is to move along their crowded calendars. Most judges simply don’t have time to try every case… Read More

If officers are acting in proper response to a potential emergency, they don’t have to read you your rights. By Micah Schwartzbach, Attorney Law enforcement officers must provide the Miranda warning if a suspect is in custody and subject to interrogation. If officers don’t provide the warning in this scenario, the suspect’s statements and any evidence derived from them… Read More