In our society, not all homicides are considered crimes. Homicide occurs when one individual takes the life of another individual. Depending on the circumstances, some homicides are lawful while others are unlawful. For example, murder and manslaughter are violations of criminal laws but a homicide committed in a justified action of self-defense is not considered a violation of criminal […]
It would seem that every time you check the news, someone is being charged with healthcare fraud. For example, recently, a podiatrist was charged with committing 30 counts of healthcare fraud when he billed Medicare for trimming toenails of patients, which is not considered a medical procedure. Back in January, the Medical College of Wisconsin was charged […]
In most states, unwanted sexual encounters committed by force or threat of force are generally classified as rape. However, Wisconsin law defines rape as sexual assault. According to the Wisconsin Statistical Analysis Center, almost 50 percent of sexual assault victims are acquaintances with the alleged perpetrator. Thirteen percent occurs between family members, while nine percent are said […]
Generally, stalking in its simplest form is defined as the unwanted pursuit of another. Many states have laws in place that prevent unwanted contact with strangers when that contact is threatening or dangerous. Sometimes, the extra attention given to a current or former significant other can turn into an invasion of privacy. Stalking usually involves a pattern […]
Vandalism is defined as the act of damaging the property of another, which does not belong to you, and without the property owner’s authorization. Whenever you drive to work, or walk through the neighborhood, you see some form of vandalism on a daily basis. Vandalism can occur on public or private property. Graffiti can often […]
Operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can have some very serious consequences. Drunk driving charges not only have the potential to lead to a criminal record and incarceration, but they can also impact a future job, your family, reputation, driver’s license, and even your bank account. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, […]
When people hear the term white collar crime, many do not think of it as a serious enough crime to warrant the advice of an attorney, as crimes of violence typically do. White collar crimes, such as wire fraud, are non-violent crimes and are usually committed by professionals in government and business. Recently, a host of wire […]
Typically, when an individual is arrested and charged with a crime, they have to wait weeks, months or even years before their case goes to trial. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you might be required to sit in jail until the day of trial comes. But, not everyone who gets arrested is required to […]
Over recent months, the news has contained a significant amount of stories relating to a grand jury. However, these stories often provide little information as to the function of the grand jury. The jurors who attend the grand jury are similar to trial jurors in that they are randomly selected from the community and they listen to the evidence. […]
Many criminal cases, including drunk driving charges, are resolved out of court through the process of plea bargaining. Plea bargaining moves cases through the criminal justice system without going through the lengthy trial process. A plea bargain, or deal, is an agreement between the defendant and the prosecutor. The defendant pleads guilty to the main charge […]