The idea that someone would confess to law enforcement officials and claim that they committed a crime that they had not seems ridiculous to many people. They cannot imagine why someone who knows they are innocent would make a statement to the contrary to the police…
Scientific evidence is often a major part of a prosecutor’s case. Eyewitnesses can be unreliable, so forensic science can seem more credible to many jurors. If a prosecutor wants to directly connect you to a specific crime scene or to a particular incident, they will use…
Police officers and prosecutors will try just about anything that the law permits them to do charging individuals with crimes and convicting them in criminal court. In some situations, Michigan police departments and prosecutors rely on confidential informants. Confidential informants are usually people already involved in…
Traffic violations that you are accused of committing in Michigan come with fines and other ramifications. But it may go beyond this, as these violations will also cause you to accrue points on your record. Under the Michigan Vehicle Code, drivers get different point values for…
People tend to understand that the police can seize property when they are arresting someone for a crime. For example, if they pull someone over and find illegal drugs in their car, they can seize the drugs and the vehicle as evidence of that crime. But…
Your property rights are among your most protected personal rights, but there are notable limits. For example, you do not have the right to retain property utilized in the commission of a crime or purchased with the proceeds of criminal activity, such personal property is subject…
Your home is where you feel safe and where you store your private property. You have a reasonable expectation of privacy inside your own home whether you rent an apartment or own a house. You need to understand your rights while in your own home or…
Michigan is a leader in the rise of alternative drug courts in the United States. These courts give people struggling with drug addiction the chance to avoid jail or prison and get help for their health problem. But do they really work? First, let’s briefly discuss…
What does it mean to truly know what another person is thinking? Philosophy aside, both Michigan and federal law make it a crime to intend to sell or distribute a controlled substance like methamphetamine or a legal drug like fentanyl if you are not a licensed…
Individuals facing the criminal justice system often feel confused and intimidated by the entire process. With numerous layers of complexity and an unending stream of documents, it is easy for people to lose focus. In many instances, it is wise to gain a clear understanding of…