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....
White collar crimes are an informal category of charges that generally consists of forms of fraud or financial crimes. The term "white collar" refers to the social standing of those involved in the crime, usually corporate workers. White collar crime is typically...
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...
Expungement is the process of sealing a criminal record so the information no longer shows through most types of background checks. It is not available to everyone and does not apply to all situations. According to the Congressional Research Service, states typically...
When crime scene investigators gather evidence, they often take it to a lab for processing. They try to connect the hair samples, shoe prints or blood spatters they found at the crime scene to the suspect or potential perpetrator. Yet, some tests run by scientists may...
When it comes to criminal cases, courts consider DNA evidence as a reliable indication of a person's guilt or innocence. A technician will collect DNA samples at the scene of the crime, take them to a lab, and test them to look for a potential match. When there is a...
DNA was a breakthrough when law enforcement first began using it to identify suspects. The technology has also increased and improved by leaps and bounds. However, despite its high-tech nature, DNA is not infallible. The US Department of Justice explains human error...