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Criminal Law defines criminal offenses through statutes, usually established by Congress or state legislatures. It also encompasses the rights of an accused and the criminal process, including arrest, arraignment, grand juries, pleas, discovery, pretrial hearings, trials, jury selection, evidence, motions, and posttrial remedies. The main purpose of criminal law is determine punishment for criminal offenses. To prove any crime, no matter how serious, the prosecutor must prove that the accused committed a guilty act with a guilty mind beyond a reasonable doubt. Please read on to find a criminal defense attorney, criminal lawyer, criminal attorney or to learn more about criminal law.
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Legal articles focusing on Criminal Law |
| Speaking Up for the Right to Remain Silent |
| An April 2009 US Supreme Court ruling means that a person charged with a federal crime can't be held and questioned for more than six hours without being brought before a federal Magistrate Judge. The result? Local law enforcement may be cautious and bring suspects before a judge sooner. |
| Criminal Law: Expungement FAQs |
| In some states, there are times when you can make a crinal conviction or arrest "disappear." Through "expungement" or "sealing," these criminal records may be completely destroyed, or they may be "sealed" so that only certain people can see it. Learn how it works in our Expungement FAQs.
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| Restraining Orders |
| Do you feel like you're a victim of domestic abuse, harassment or stalking? A restraining order can help diffuse the situation and give you needed protection. Learn about restraining order types, what they can do, and the steps to obtain and enforce an order, if needed. |
| Crime and Criminal Law Basics |
| Crimes are defined by state and federal laws. Crimes are divided into two main categories, felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies are more serious crimes, punished by over a year in prison. Misdemeanors are less serious, and generally punished by less than a year’s imprisonment. |
| Criminal Law: Sentencing, Parole & Probation FAQs |
| Many criminal cases end when the defendant gets punished for committing a crime. This is often called the "sentencing phase" of trial. Our Sentencing, Parole and Probation FAQs explain some of the basics of criminal sentencing. |
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Ask a Lawyer - Criminal Law questions answered by leading lawyers |
| If you make a purchase at a store, but accidentally walk out with an item unpaid for, Is it legal fo |
| My boyfriend went to a store (that will remain nameless) to make a purchase. He purchased the item then remembered he had to get my prescription filled, so while waiting at the pharmacy, he was reading information on another item (that cost hardly anything). When they called his name to the pharmacy counter, he put what he was looking at on top of the items he had already purchased which were bagged up. He remembered he had to buy one more thing and the item that he had been looking at. Well, they didn''t have the other item he needed, so he left the store forgetting about the item that he had been looking at, Lose prevention chased him out of the store and he told them it was an accident and he would pay for it, but they wouldn''t let him. What should we do?! Do you think we need a lawyer? And why didn''''t they just let him pay for it? |
| Would getting a traffic ticket count as violating the good behavior conditions of my suspended jail |
| I was convicted of a misdemeanor assault and battery and given 30 days in jail, all suspended under the condition of good behavior over two years. |
| Is there anyway to get my misdemeanor theft charge removed? |
| Four years ago, I was accused of theft in the 5th degree by Walmart. I was working there, and a customer asked for a 20 dollar gift card. She paid for it, but then decided that she didn''t want the card, and wanted her money back. I explained that I could not do that because of Walmart''s policy, and after getting angry with me, she tossed the card near the garbage can. Picking it up, I used it to buy food, and a month later, a police officer calls me at 7 or 8 p.m., asking me to come to the station. He tells me that Walmat is accusing me of theft, and that if I plead guilty, that the judge will take it easy on me, as it is my first offense. If not, I could do jail time. Note that he did not arrest me, nor did he read me my Miranda rights. I wrote down what happened, got a court date, and was charged with 5th degree theft. Given probation, I was unable to pay my fines in time, so now it seems I am stuck. |
| Almost a year ago I signed a plea agreement to a AGGRAVATED MISDEMEANOR with a sentence of two years |
| and now that it has been almost a year I''m ready to turn myself in. Is the plea that I signed off on still in effect? Or is the plea no good now? |
| How can two separate people be arrested for the same crime at the same time if the police do not sus |
| The police have arrested a friend of mine; they already arrested someone else for the same crime and he is still under arrest. Can they do that? |
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