Criminal Law

The filing of criminal charges in federal court begins with an investigation of suspected criminal activity, usually conducted by the FBI. However, other federal agencies are sometimes involved...

Grand juries perform important functions, including listening to criminal charges and deciding whether to return a true bill of indictment.

The US criminal justice system is complex and in some cases arcane. Many people misunderstand understand criminal justice concepts such as prosecutorial discretion, plea bargaining and sentencing....

A criminal case takes place when a person is arrested for committing a crime. That person, the offender or defendant, is moved through the three components of the criminal justice system: law...

While most of us are desperate to get excused from jury duty, some people find that the idea of jury duty isn't quite as bothersome as the rest of us. In fact, there are individuals who want to...

Millions of Americans receive the same notice in their mailbox year after year: the dreaded summons for jury duty. But as a stay-at-home mom, the jury duty request causes much more than a mere...

The U.S. Constitution provides several rights to criminal defendants. While some of these apply to interactions with the police and some apply to criminal punishment, there are five important...

Facing a weeks or months-long trial as a prospective juror? Dreading the loss of income and the constraints on your freedom? Ironically, in the "free-est" country on Earth, we are...

A crime is an action penalized by a fine or imprisonment. Depending on the city, county or state, there are different socially acceptable behaviors, which, if broken, are punishable by law. A...

Trial by jury is the climax of a long and often complex journey through the criminal justice process. It is not the beginning of the journey, nor is it the end of the journey towards resolution of...

Evidence in a criminal trial is anything that tends to prove or disprove a material fact at issue in the case. It is what the jury hears during the trial to help it make its decision about guilt...

Criminal justice is the system of law enforcement, attorneys, the courts, the prison system and the parole and probation system that are directly involved in the investigation, arrest, trial,...

The standard of proof that is required to convict a defendant in a criminal case in a majority of adversarial judicial systems is known as "beyond a reasonable doubt." The standard of beyond a...

The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure is made up of a list of rules set forth by the United States Supreme Court that govern the procedure of federal criminal trials in U.S. district courts and...

Criminal defendants have the right to represent themselves in any federal case and in almost all 50 states. Defending oneself is called "pro se" or "pro per" representation. Though the common...

Criminal law is distinctively different from all others types of law. If you are charged with a crime, you'll benefit from an understanding of criminal law. Many people do not realize that only a...

There are many legal terms thrown around these days. They are seen on popular TV shows and in the news, but many of these terms are misused or misunderstood. Here is a quick reference material for...

Never. Never represent yourself in a court of law unless it is simply small claims court. For all other, criminal, civil torts, etc. always hire an attorney. There is never a good reason not to...

This is a little article on how to keep from getting into trouble for missing Jury Duty.

Jury duty...oh boy

If you've never served as a juror before, the task can seem mystifying , even down right scary. Follow these simple steps to feel complete confidence as a juror.

Why is it, the thought of having to serve on jury duty is about as much fun as going to the dentist. You know it's necessary, but you don't want to do either one.

Criminal justice personnel, especially law enforcement officers, must know how to correctly obtain a legal statement from a crime suspect that will maintain credibility in court. There are five...

Serving on a jury is your civic duty. Although most people dread getting summonsed and it is a huge interruption to your life, many people end up surprisingly enjoying the actual experience....

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...

While the statutes defining third degree murder vary considerably from state to state, a good general definition is that any homicide committed with the malicious intention of causing bodily harm,...

One of the challenges inherent in the American legal system is the need to establish an accused criminal's guilt beyond all question. To do this, you'll need to show a jury convincing proof that...

While the statutes defining third degree murder vary considerably from state to state, a good general definition is that any homicide committed with the malicious intention of causing bodily harm,...

One of the challenges inherent in the American legal system is the need to establish an accused criminal's guilt beyond all question. To do this, you'll need to show a jury convincing proof that...

According to the U.S. Constitution, every person charged with a criminal offense and facing a criminal trial has the right to be tried by an impartial jury. The jury selection process can vary...

All able citizens over the age of 18 are eligible for jury duty in the United States. If you are summoned for jury duty in a criminal trial, it is your legal responsibility to report to the...

Persons charged with crimes are entitled to a criminal trial to defend themselves against the charge(s) against them. It is absolutely necessary for defendants to sit down with their attorneys and...

A mistrial occurs when an error in the legal process invalidates a criminal trial. A mistrial can also happen when a so-called "hung jury" cannot reach a verdict in the case. If the judge declares...

How to Prepare for Jury Duty? There may come a time when you are chosen to serve on Jury Duty. If you're called to serve, the steps below will help you to prepare for it.