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 […]
The sentencing phase takes place after you are convicted of a crime. This phase occurs immediately after you enter a guilty plea, or as a result of a jury or bench trial verdict. Depending on the seriousness of the crime you were charged with, the judge determines the appropriate punishment. Many states, including Wisconsin, group crimes into […]
In all criminal prosecutions, including drug cases, you have a right to a speedy trial. This prevents the state or prosecution from keeping you in jail for an indefinite period of time without trial. However, the right to a speedy trial does not apply to every single stage of a criminal case. It will only arise […]
Many states, including Wisconsin, require preliminary hearings to be held when you are facing felony charges and plead not guilty at arraignment, also known as the “initial appearance.” Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may decide to waive the preliminary hearing, give up your right to have one and proceed to trial. However, there are […]
Through each stage of the criminal justice system you have rights that must be protected. The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the United States Constitution grant you many rights, including the right to an attorney in most stages of criminal proceedings. These rights ensure that your trial is fair and that you do not unjustly get sent […]
In many murder or homicide cases, defendants argue the case of mistaken identity—the prosecution charged the wrong person for the wrongful death of another. When you are facing murder charges for a crime that you did not commit, an alibi defense could be the key to dismissing the charges against you. The alibi defense is based on the underlying […]