There are many ways to defend against criminal charges in Illinois. Sometimes, people provide alibis or investigate to uncover who actually violated the law. Other times, their lawyers can prevent prosecutors from presenting certain evidence during a trial. The...
Criminal Law
Should you take your criminal case to trial?
It's no secret that a significant number of criminal cases are resolved through plea deals rather than going to trial. In fact, statistics show that the majority of criminal cases (about 98% in the federal system) end in plea bargains. The American Bar Association’s...
What is a motion to suppress in criminal proceedings?
During pretrial hearings, the defense may make a formal request to the court to exclude specific evidence from being presented in court. This evidence could encompass anything from seized items to confession statements. If a judge grants the motion, the evidence will...
3 reasons not to take a lie detector test
If you’re under investigation for any kind of serious crime here in Missouri, the police may ask you to take a polygraph test and “clear your name.” They can’t force you to comply with their request, but there’s no question that you’ll feel some pressure over the...
Peer pressure may influence teens to break the law
When teenagers break the law, parents are often frustrated because they just don’t understand why. For instance, many teens get picked up on shoplifting charges when stealing things that they could afford or didn’t even need. Parents can’t understand why they would...
Is eyewitness testimony reliable?
When one is charged with a crime, the police often rely on eyewitnesses as a source of evidence. Eyewitness testimony can be convincing, as it's believed the human mind is highly capable of recording and storing every detail of an experience. But cases of eyewitness...
Leaving the scene of an accident can result in a felony charge
Most everyone knows that leaving the scene of an accident is wrong. It’s also illegal. Nonetheless, many people still make the mistake of fleeing in the wake of a collision. Sometimes, they don’t think there was any damage – especially if they hit a parked car when...
3 benefits of expungement Missouri residents should know about
The consequences of a criminal record can be far-reaching, affecting individuals long after they have served their time. Thankfully, convicts have the opportunity to reclaim their lives through the process of criminal record expungement. Exploring the significant...
Why fingerprint evidence isn’t as reliable as you think
Fingerprint evidence has long been considered a gold standard in forensic investigations. Its use in solving crimes dates back over a century, and it has played a major role in countless criminal cases. But, is fingerprint evidence really nothing more than another...
What not to do during a police encounter
The police are tasked with enforcing the law and investigating criminal cases. To do so, they have a number of powers at their disposal. For instance, they can stop individuals for questioning, carry out searches and make arrests. However, they cannot use these powers...