Criminal Law Basics

Several misconceptions exist about how and when you can waive civil rights under arrest and questioning circumstances. It's important to note that procedures can differ depending on the state and...

When looking over your portfolio or considering investment, you should pay attention to the company's intellectual property due-diligence procedures. Even some rather well known companies forget...

A felony conviction will follow you for as long as you let it. As a convicted felon, you are stripped of some of your Constitutional rights, but you are still a citizen of the United States of...

An arrest, defined as deprivation of freedom by a legal authority, is no simple matter. It is one of the most serious steps the state takes in curbing a person's freedom, and freedom is guaranteed...

A U.S. marshal needs reasonable cause to make an arrest for a felony crime. In the planning of the arrest, the superior deputy in the proceedings makes the decision whether to contact local law...

Felony convictions carry lasting collateral consequences. The precise rights denied to persons with felony convictions vary state to state, and include loss of rights to vote, to serve on juriesor...

Police misconduct can infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens. Allegations of police misconduct can be filed with the US Department of Justice, your local precinct, or national activist...

Police brutality can be stopped by you and those in your community. Know your rights and stand up for yourself, even if that means getting an attorney. Document all instances of brutality and...

Dealing with the criminal justice system can be a frightening and overwhelming experience even if you are not facing the threat of an arrest. Being investigated can be a stressful ordeal because...

Voting in elections is a right that is given to all U.S. citizens when they turn 18 years old. Many people do not understand the importance of this right until it is taken away. When convicted of...

The rights of crime victims, witnesses or criminal suspects in the United States are primary established through the United States Constitution, although some rights do vary from state to state...

A felony conviction can strip an individual of certain civil rights. Included in this bracket of lost rights is the right to bear arms. Both federal and state laws consider a felon to be...

Convicted felons face a number of difficulties in attempting to reintegrate themselves into society. The difficulty in finding work is well documented. Convicted felons may also find it difficult...

Validating probable cause according to substantial evidence is a prerequisite for a case to move forward in both civil and criminal courts. The substantial evidence parameters used for probable...

Once a person has been convicted of a felony and served his time, his record is supposed to be clean. However, the stigma of the conviction will stay with him for the rest of his life. This has...

Even if it has been several years since your last offense, a criminal record can prevent you from getting a job or even a place to live. If you are trying to move on with your life but find your...

This article will give you a basic understanding of your Constitutional Rights if you are arrested. This article is NOT a help tool for criminals. It is just a basic understanding of your rights...

Probable cause is one of a group of rights that belong to American citizens, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. These individual rights were added by a group of the founders of the Republic who...

Due process is the collection of rights outlined in the Bill of Rights and in decisions of the Supreme Court that define how citizens should be treated in our legal system. The most familiar of...

The US Constitution and Bill of Rights give each American citizen protections under the law. In 1966, the US Supreme Court ruled that law enforcement would be required to remind citizens of their...

"Miranda Rights" is the common term for rights granted to US citizens under the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. Citizens must receive a Miranda Warning, or an explanation of these rights,...

Miranda or the 5th amendment to the Constitution gives the right to remain silent and protects an individual suspected of a crime. It offers protections not to answer questions even when prompted...