How Many Plea Deals Are Offered Before Trial? (Get the Facts)
In the vast majority of criminal cases, over 90%, at least one plea deal is offered before trial, and plea bargaining is the standard way cases get resolved, not the exception. In federal court, that number rises to about 98%, which means a trial is the rare outcome, not the expected one. That reality surprises […]
Michigan Expert Witness Testimony (OWI/DUI Defense Guide)
You’re probably here because a police report, breath test, blood draw, or crash narrative suddenly became the center of your life. In many Michigan criminal cases, especially OWI matters, the prosecution’s version sounds technical enough to feel unanswerable. A machine produced a number. An officer reached a conclusion. A lab generated a report. It can […]
Preservation Of Evidence (Michigan Criminal Defense Guide)
The handcuffs may already be off. You may be home, calling family, searching your bond paperwork, or wondering whether charges are coming. The primary focus in that moment is often one question: how do I get out of this? A close second should be: what evidence is disappearing right now? In Michigan cases, that can […]
Does CPS Get Involved In Domestic Violence Cases In Michigan
A lot of Michigan parents land on this question in the same way. The police came to the house after an argument. Someone said the kids were home. An officer mentioned Child Protective Services. Now you’re trying to figure out whether one domestic incident means the state is about to take over your family life. […]
What Is The Difference Between Battery And Assault In Michigan?
In Michigan, assault can be charged even if no one was touched, because the accusation can rest on a threat or attempt that caused reasonable fear of immediate harm. Battery requires actual physical contact, and simple assault or assault and battery can carry up to 93 days in jail and a $500 fine. If you’re […]
Can Domestic Violence Charges Be Dropped in Michigan? (2026)
You’re probably here because the worst part has already happened. The police were called. Someone got arrested. By the next morning, the alleged victim was saying it was a misunderstanding, they don’t want to go forward, and they just want the whole thing dropped. That’s a common situation in Southwest Michigan courts. It’s also where […]
Difference Between Theft And Robbery (2026 Michigan Guide)
A lot of people call the office after a case takes a sudden turn. They thought they were dealing with shoplifting, a stolen phone, or a grab-and-run accusation. Then the police report uses the word robbery, and everything feels different overnight. That reaction makes sense. In everyday conversation, theft and robbery get used as if […]
How Long Do Drug Investigations Take in Michigan
Simple Michigan drug investigations can conclude in weeks, while more complex cases involving lab analysis and multiple agencies often stretch from 6 to 24 months or more before charges are even filed. If you’re waiting after a traffic stop, a search, or a call from police, that silence doesn’t mean the case is over. It […]
Can You Get A DUI Dismissed In Michigan? (Legal Guide 2026)
You wake up the next morning and the first thing you check is your phone. Then your wallet. Then the paperwork. The sinking feeling hits in waves. You remember the traffic stop, the questions, the tests on the roadside, the ride to the station, and the charge that now sits over everything else you need […]
Can You Go To Jail For First Offense Drug Possession in Michigan
TL;DR: Yes. Michigan law allows jail for a first-offense drug possession case, including up to 4 years in prison and a $25,000 fine for possession of less than 25 grams of certain Schedule 1 or 2 narcotics. But jail is often not the practical outcome for eligible first-time offenders, because Section 333.7411 can allow a […]