In Virginia, it is illegal to touch people without their consent, to cause bodily harm to another or to make them fear for their own physical safety. You could face assault charges if you cause bodily injury to someone, offend them through physical touch or cause them...
The justice system in the United State is supposed to err on the side of letting guilty people go, as long as that means that innocent people do not get convicted. Unfortunately, with the scores of overturned convictions since the rise of DNA evidence, it’s very clear...
Most people understand that murder is wrong and that it occurs when someone intentionally harms another person intending to cause their death. Murder is a premeditated killing that is committed unlawfully. By its definition, it’s a reality that a murder is...
Most forms of embezzlement are so obvious that people would never commit them by accident. Stealing cash from the petty cash drawer or credit card numbers from customers is an obvious violation of the law. However, there are certain forms of embezzlement that fall...
Most Americans who speak English could more or less recite the Miranda Warning from memory because they've heard it so many times. It often features prominently in entertainment involving police officers or crime. You probably know that you have the right to remain...
Defendants who have been charged with a violent crime often rely on their right to protect themselves as a legal defense. The terms “Castle Doctrine” and “Stand Your Ground” laws are often tossed around in these kinds of cases. Both refer to the laws in various...
When one person takes another person’s life, they may be charged with a crime. Exactly what they are charged with differs from case to case, though, and can have a drastic impact on the potential sentence and on their legal defense options. One type of homicide that...
Most people think about burglaries and robberies in the same way. You imagine someone breaking into a house or car. You might think about large items getting stolen or people getting hurt. The reality is that these two terms do not mean the same thing. There are...
How often have you watched the news and heard about the police arresting multiple individuals for the same crimes for what seems like days on end? It's no coincidence. It happens because law enforcement agencies track crime data and conduct dragnet operations or...
In any case that has to go to trial with a jury, it’s important to make sure that the jury itself isn’t biased in a way that could hurt the defendant. Juries are meant to be neutral. Initially, jury selections are neutral. In your state and county, your local court...
