When someone is convicted of murder, the deceased’s loved ones are usually given a chance before sentencing to tell the court how the crime has affected their lives emotionally, physically and financially. In Tennessee, this is a right protected by law. Victim impact...
In some criminal cases, a lengthy investigation results in police officers identifying a specific suspect. They go to a judge and obtain a search warrant. Once a judge has signed a search warrant, police officers can gain access to a private residence or even...
If you stand accused of a crime, it is important to understand the full range of consequences you could face. Especially when offered a plea deal, it can be easy to zone in on the immediate sentence and perhaps consider it a deal worth accepting. Yet the consequences...
The Fourth Amendment generally protects people from inappropriate searches of their property, as well as questionable seizures of their assets. Police officers can conduct searches when they have warrants or permission from individuals. They can also conduct searches...
The justice system is set up to err on the side of allowing guilty people to go free in order to avoid false convictions. However, it’s very clear that these false convictions still happen. For instance, DNA evidence has exonerated hundreds of people who were...
A number of factors are often considered when a judge is determining what kind of sentence to hand down to someone who’s found or pleads guilty to a crime. That sentence may end up being shortened if they don’t get into any further trouble while they’re in prison or...
In Tennessee, some individuals charged with drug crimes have the option to go through recovery courts. This is different from the traditional criminal court system. With recovery court, there is a supervised treatment program for the person who has been accused of...
Drug possession trials are often complex. A court may consider several factors in a drug possession case before deciding on a final conviction. Even minor details in a case could lead to harsher sentencing. If you are unaware of what a judge may look at during a drug...
Many people end up arrested, or in a worse position than needed because they don’t understand their rights or certain basic principles of law. One misconception that often causes problems is assuming the police will tell you the truth. The reality is that police...
Many different substances are subject to strict control or are outright prohibited under federal and state law. The government assigns different charges and penalties to drug offenses depending on the type of substance involved. The schedule of controlled substances...
