If you are being questioned about a crime, law enforcement agents may ask you to take a lie detector test. It may seem like the right thing to do, but, before making your decision, you should know some important facts. Some experts consider polygraphs “junk science”...
You have probably seen enough movies and TV shows to believe that you shouldn’t speak with law enforcement unless you have your attorney present. That is one part of fiction that is true in real life—avoid police conversations without representation. Still, when...
Whether you have been convicted at trial or decided to plead guilty, your defense isn’t done. In fact, it may just be beginning. You can expect the prosecutor to offer some justification for making your sentence harsher, while your defense will focus on the...
The First Amendment protects us from government infringement of our right to free speech. But over the centuries, Congress, state legislatures and courts have carved out several exceptions, some of which can even land you in prison based on what you say or write....
Tax issues can land a person in legal hot water. Along with being financially penalized by the IRS, certain tax problems can also carry criminal punishments. Take the charge of tax evasion, for instance, which can carry severe penalties if convicted. If you have...
Witness testimony plays an important role in criminal cases, helping to establish the facts and determine the guilt or innocence of the accused. However, various factors influence the reliability of eyewitness testimony, including a condition known as face blindness....
Sometimes minor children make mistakes, causing harm to others. Under certain circumstances, parents in California would be liable if a child's willful act results in injury or death to another person. What charges can parents face? The criminal charge...
Every time you log onto a computer, you potentially face a complex mix of ethical and legal decisions. This takes on added importance if you represent a company that pays your salary. The sharing of files or copyrighted material falls under state and federal piracy...
Healthcare fraud can carry serious criminal consequences. While trillions of dollars are paid for much-needed treatments and surgeries, billions are lost to criminal activity based on data from the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA), Depending on...
When you face a California criminal charge for a violent, drug-related or another type of offense, eyewitness accounts may play a big role in determining whether that charge leads to a conviction. Many judges and juries find eyewitness testimony among the most...
