Criminal Law Basics

Much of what a computer user does remains on the computer even if files are deleted. Also, most of what is done on the Internet can be traced back to the computer user. Computer forensics is used...

Job applicants are often asked to include their criminal history on an application. A DUI conviction, although it happened in a motor vehicle, is not a traffic violation. It is a crime and not...

When a no-knock warrant is issued by a judge, authorization is granted for law enforcement officers to enter a premises without knocking or otherwise announcing who they are or why they are there.

Computer criminals cost billions in damages to businesses and individuals across the globe each year. Regardless of business efforts, there appears to be no end in sight to the growing threat of...

When compiling evidence for use in legal cases, forensic interviewing skills are often used by law enforcement officials, child welfare advocates or mental health representatives. By using such...

Strategic planning has gained popularity among police departments and other public agencies since the 1980s. Led by management but potentially involving all levels within a law enforcement agency,...

Background checks are important for several reasons. Many employers want to ensure that a prospective employee will not be a risk due to his background. Some non-profit organizations need to...

In certain criminal cases involving minor charges, the defendant might qualify for a diversion agreement. If you or a member of your family are charged with a misdemeanor offense, you need to...

Collecting maggots might not be as thrilling as dusting for fingerprints, but both have equal value for finding evidence. The size and weight of fly larvae on a body are just some of the clues...

Incidents involving physical abuse and excessive force by police officers across the country highlight the need for action to reduce such behavior. Although police brutality occurs infrequently,...

A deferred prosecution agreement is an agreement entered into between a prosecutor and a defendant in a criminal case. The net effect is that, in exchange for successful completion of some sort of...

Checking your criminal record for employment or professional license reasons requires a form, identification and a trip to the police station for fingerprinting. You will need to know what is...

Bond is set in criminal cases as extra assurance that the arrested person will return to court on the scheduled day. People who do so are given back their bond money. In this event, it becomes an...

In stark contrast to the often unflattering stereotypes surrounding them, the majority of public defenders are highly trained, experienced criminal trial attorneys. Whether working as a public...

Public defenders came into practice in the early 1900s at the behest of Clara Shortridge Foltz, according to the Stanford Law School Library. Public defenders help indigent defendants in...

Public defender investigators must be able to perform many of the same duties as police investigators. Public defenders rely on their investigators to do shoe-leather work for them, gathering...

The ranking system within a police department is a way of promoting structure, thus enabling a chain of command to be followed. This system of hierarchy helps ensure that police departments...

Under the United States Constitution, criminal defendants have the right to be represented by counsel. The local public defender's office will appoint an attorney for those indigent defendants who...

Criminal justice reports were created to serve as a resource tool for law enforcement, according to the FBI, which manages the Uniform Crime Report program. Now criminal justice reports serve as...

Under state and federal Freedom of Information Laws, police agencies are required to keep a record of daily activities that can be inspected by the public. Local newspapers typically review these...

Facing possible criminal charges, you need to understand the full array of options that are available to you. Included on this list you need to know is a deferred prosecution agreement. In the...

Trespassing is one of the most misunderstood laws. Knowing your rights and the particulars of the law can only help.

When you receive a clean criminal background check, it means that there are no criminal convictions listed within the criminal database that was checked. A clean criminal background check is...

Although every police jurisdiction is slightly different, generally a police burglary report will include information about the location of the burglary, what (if anything) was taken, information...

Fingerprinting is the process of obtaining images of your fingerprints, so that agencies can compare them against other fingerprints gathered by the government. A criminal background check is a...

Whether you need them for traveling, adopting a child, proving your lack of a criminal history or challenging an accusation, you can receive information about your criminal records through a...

Just as criminals have become tech savvy, so have the cops. Authorities across the globe use cyber squads and task forces to track down such online criminals as computer hackers and pedophiles....

A police check, commonly known as a criminal records check, is becoming a more common precaution undertaken by individuals, businesses and communities.

A good police report can either make or break a criminal case. The narrative that is found in a police report will be the core of any investigation and prosecution. Therefore it must provide all...

Criminal law is a very complicated and often ugly area of human interaction. Conflicting laws and loyalties among those involved lead to a wide range of different ethical issues and concerns. In...

While much public data exists on criminal records, an employer must first obtain consent from a person before conducting a search. Laws and data vary from state to state, but federal law provides...

Evidence retained by police in a criminal case is generally held until the case has been resolved by conviction, dismissal or otherwise. If you have been charged in a case that is ongoing, your...

Knowing how to properly search someone is a required skill for those who work in security, law enforcement and other similar fields. A proper search can save lives, prevent unlawful activity, and...

A bench warrant is a legal document issued by a judge allowing law enforcement to detain and arrest an individual. A bench warrant can be handled and treated by the police as any other warrant,...

We have all watched film scenes in which a crime victim attempts to identify the perpetrator from a police lineup or by viewing mugshots. This kind of identification is still useful, but while...

Crime goes under-reported all around the world. As a former police officer, I have heard of many reasons for this, from citizens I met in the line of duty and from published studies about this...

Using an X26 taser is an important skill to master if you work in any type of law enforcement or armed security position. A taser is an effective weapon that allows you to temporarily paralyze an...

If you are currently looking for a new job or trying to rent an apartment, you may find yourself the subject of a criminal background check. Containing your entire criminal history, a criminal...

The criminal trial always begins with the filing of charges. Until formal charges have been files against you--even if you have been arrested--you have not been charged with a crime. Contrary to...

Laptop-equipped police cruisers greatly enhance an officer's overall performance. Before laptops were used in patrol cars, an officer would have to conduct most business either via radio or by...

The Whistleblower Protection Act provides protection for federal employees who expose illegal activity by the government. The Whistleblower Act applies to employees of the executive branch of the...

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects you and your home from unreasonable searches and seizures. Courts have long grappled with the issue of what constitutes a search and...

Criminal background checks cover a person's criminal conviction history alone. Background checks include criminal records and a long list of other records that can be dug up with a person's...

How to fight your DUI - and Win! How to choose the right attorney to defend you. Any DUI is a serious offense. Every State is unique in how it handles DUIs. If you have been charged with a DUI of...

Criminal background records keep track of a criminal's acts for their entire criminal career. But records' systems can be limited.