Facing false accusations in a courtroom can put your confidence into a tailspin. You may feel hopeless about your future and the likelihood of restoring your image. Even though you know that you are not guilty, proving your innocence to others often requires a lot of...
When you receive a sentence for a criminal conviction, there is the possibility that you will become incarcerated. Where you spend your time behind bars depends on a few factors. The National Institute of Justice explains you could either go to jail or prison. They...
Trace DNA uses STR analysis to identify skin cells or other tiny specimens of human genetic material left behind at a crime scene. In court, defense teams can protect clients against life-changing charges by pinpointing whose DNA was at the scene. The scientific...
When you find yourself facing prosecution for allegedly committing a crime, one of the most important things you need to understand is the Fruit of the Poisonous Tree Doctrine and how it protects you and your rights. Per information from FindLaw, this doctrine works...
Forensic interviews are not just for the prosecution. In this process, the defense can gather information from a witness or victim to present in a court hearing. In situations involving allegations of child abuse, this technique offers the defense an opportunity to...
In identifying the perpetrator of a crime, major tasks might include sifting through the evidence for materials having characteristics that do not change over time. Fingerprints are examples of such characteristics. Another example of profiling technology is trace DNA...
The American legal system can be confusing. Because police detectives have extensive experience interviewing witnesses, the criminal justice process also can be intimidating. If you are not careful, you may say something prosecutors can use against you at trial....
If you are facing a criminal conviction, and you think that there was an error during your original trial, you have a right to appeal the decision. Because a conviction results in a major change of life circumstances, it may be worth examining the options for appeal....
Many in Maryland might find it difficult to not view a claim of self-defense with anything but skepticism. That likely comes from the idea that such an assertion is simply too convenient given the context. Yet it is that very context that may indeed justify one's...
Maryland considers first-degree murder the most serious type of homicide, i.e., causing the death of another human being, that a perpetrator can commit. FindLaw explains that Section 2-201 of the Maryland Criminal Law Code defines first-degree murder as the willful...