Criminal Law

Many people believe that if they are arrested and not "read their rights," they can escape punishment. Not true.

Police must convince a neutral judge that, more likely than not, a crime has been committed and the subject of the warrant was involved.

Do you have the right to record police officers doing their job?

Bail is cash, a bond, or property that an arrested person gives to a court to ensure that they will appear in court when ordered to do so.

Preliminary hearings, often referred to as "prelims," require the prosecutor to show enough credible evidence to a judge to convince that judge to send the case on to trial.

Upon entering a guilty plea, the defendant admits to the charges and gives up their right to a trial and the right to make the prosecution prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

Most criminal defendants are legally indigent and can’t afford to pay for an attorney. On the other hand, the state can’t legally prosecute indigents unless it provides them with an attorney. To satisfy this requirement, many states have set up public defender offices.

One of the first questions you're likely to ask an attorney whom you're considering hiring is, "What will this cost?" Here's the low-down on how criminal defense attorneys charge for their services, which vary according to such factors as:

I don't think my public defender is doing a good job. Can I get another lawyer in the office?

The following are the most common standards of proof in civil and criminal cases, from lowest to highest. The standard that applies depends on the type of case.

With the overwhelming majority of crimes, defendants must act intentionally—or at least recklessly—in order to be guilty.

Entrapment happens when police officers coerce or induce someone into committing a crime. Proving entrapment can lead to an acquittal.

If your criminal record is holding you back, expunging or sealing the record might help. Learn the steps involved in expungement.

Don’t assume that having a felony conviction means you’ve lost your right to vote forever. Learn more about the various state laws and find resources on restoring your right to vote.

Can you possess a gun after a criminal conviction? Learn about federal and state laws that ban firearm possession after a conviction.

Manslaughter is an unlawful killing that doesn’t involve malice aforethought—intent to seriously harm or kill, or extreme, reckless disregard for life. The absence of malice aforethought means that manslaughter involves less moral blame than either first- or second-degree murder.

Criminal trespass involves being on someone else’s property without permission. But the crime isn’t as simple as just being where you’re not supposed to.

Learn about the possible sentences for assault, assault and battery, and aggravated assault crimes.

The juvenile justice system is separate from the criminal justice system. Read on to learn some basics on crime and punishment for minors.

Learn about the typical punishments for juvenile delinquents, from juvenile probation or detention to community service and other non-incarceration options.

Some juvenile cases get transferred to adult criminal court through a process called a "waiver"—when a judge waives the protections that juvenile court provides.