Search

Results 571 to 581 out of 3539 total results for ""

What Is a Plea Bargain?

A plea bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defense to settle a criminal case under specific terms. In a plea bargain, the defendant typically pleads guilty or no contest in exchange for an agreed-upon sentence. Negotiating a plea bargain can be helpful to avoid a costly trial, the unpredictability of a jury […]

Your Fifth Amendment Right Against Self-Incrimination

Most people have heard the term “pleading the Fifth,” but may not know exactly what it means. The phrase refers to the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and “pleading the Fifth” is a criminal law term meaning taking advantage of the right to not incriminate yourself. To not incriminate yourself means you can […]

What Is Assault?

Assault and battery are commonly used together, but there are differences. Different state laws treat the terms differently. The main difference between assault and battery is intent and whether there was physical contact. There are also levels of assault, depending on the circumstances. Criminal laws for assault can be different depending on where you live. […]

Does an Expunged Criminal Record Still Follow You?

Some states allow certain criminal convictions to be expunged or cleared from your criminal history. Each state has its own rules for expungements. Most state laws limit the types of criminal convictions eligible for expungement to misdemeanors and non-violent offenses. If you have a criminal record, getting an expungement can have many advantages. In most […]

Violating Probation

After a person pleads guilty to or is found guilty of a crime, a judge gives that person an appropriate sentence. Probation is the most common sentence in America. This article answers common questions about probation conditions and the consequences for violating the conditions of your probation. However, the answers to many questions about probation […]

Bail For Beginners

If police arrest you, whether you have to remain in jail for the duration of your case depends on the charges. A judge, prosecutor, and your criminal defense attorney will have a hearing to determine your release. At this hearing, the judge may set a specific amount of money — your “bail” — that you […]

When Does Discipline Become Abuse?

Discipline is one of parenting’s biggest challenges. As time passes, more parents have rejected physical punishments in favor of other methods of discipline. Yet some families continue to use spanking and other forms of physical discipline. Lawyers call discipline that involves hitting a child corporal punishment. Generally, the law allows parents to choose how they […]

Probable Cause to Arrest Someone

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects your rights against arbitrary arrests and unlawful searches. If police officers need to arrest you or conduct a search without a warrant, they must show that they have probable cause to take action. If you are facing criminal charges and have serious doubts that police had probable […]

The Differences Between Bond and Bail

After an arrest, you’ll probably hear the terms “bail” and “bond” quite a bit. People often use the terms interchangeably, so you might wonder if they mean the same thing. Although the words “bail” and “bond” are used in similar ways, they are different. This article will explain the differences between bond and bail and […]

What Happens if a Juror Falls Asleep in a Trial?

For many, the idea of a juror falling asleep during a trial seems like an affront to justice. But it may not have the outcome that you think. It will depend on the case, how long or how often the juror has been sleeping, the portion of the trial during which the juror fell asleep, […]