There are basic rights and protections in place that do a lot for those facing criminal charges. They have the right to a criminal defense, the right to a speedy trial and the right to a jury comprised of their peers. There are also rights enshrined in the...
Being accused of first-degree murder is serious and can put your life and freedoms at risk. Even though you've not yet been convicted, the likelihood is that you will be treated differently by your peers, colleagues and others. If you're taken into custody, you may...
Let’s say you were at the bar on a Friday night, had some drinks and had a good time. You went home, got some sleep, and Saturday morning, the cops showed up and wanted to ask you some questions. There was a fight at the bar, and someone got hurt bad. Maybe...
Did you ever play the game where you and your friends try to figure out which celebrity each of you looks like? You might also have seen people on the street who looked like ringers for famous faces. But how often did you worry that you looked like a copy of a serious...
Most of us understand robbery as a more violent form of theft. On top of robbery, there’s the even more serious and violent aggravated robbery. How is a robbery aggravated when it’s already a violent act? There’s actually a simple way to distinguish the two....
As you watch the news or drive by one of Tennessee’s correctional facilities, you may think you could predict who you would find on the other side of the door. Perhaps you have a picture of a prisoner in your mind. Maybe you consider the offenses that landed an...
Over the last several years there has been significant contentious talk around the country regarding the use of video by law enforcement during interactions with the public. Many people have called for its use to call out inappropriate behavior. One study however...
You have been charged with a crime and the situation you find yourself in can feel stressful and overwhelming. You are suddenly faced with being in the inside of a court room and maybe even a jail cell, meeting with a lawyer and hearing legal terms you may not be...
Being charged with a crime can be a very stressful. The desperation you may feel can make it difficult to act like yourself, and it may possibly lead to your saying the wrong thing. The time immediately following an arrest can have a great impact on the rest of your...
The Fourth Amendment protects our homes against unreasonable searches. So, in summary, your rights stand unless an officer has a warrant based on probable cause. But what happens if an officer enters your home without one?What is a warrant?A warrant is basically a...
