Category: cast of law

Top Reasons for Wrongful Convictions

There are people behind bars who are innocent. Science is helping with the exoneration of cases, mainly through DNA evidence. Awareness of the issue is also helping with criminal justice reform. One true-life movie with Hilary Swank, entitled The Exonerated, demonstrates how a wrongful conviction can happen.

Here are the top reasons why wrongful convictions happen:

Eyewitness Mistaken Identity

According to Western Michigan University, 72% of overturned convictions, through DNA evidence, are from mistaken witness identifications. The Innocence Project is trying to push for reforms that include the way lineups are conducted. A witness can be influenced unconsciously during a lineup in various ways. This can be shocking to people who are arrested, and they may need  to reach a criminal defense attorney Kingsport TN.

Perjury

Nearly one in five cases of wrongful conviction are due to someone giving false testimony. A lot of times this happens with jailhouse informants …

3 Types of Expert Witnesses

When you are in court, sometimes the witnesses that you have scheduled will not be enough. If that is the case, you might need to call in an expert witness. Here are three types of expert witnesses that you can call in for a variety of purposes.

1. Financial Expert

In cases that involve large amounts of money, the stock market, or banking in some way, you may need to call in a financial expert witness. These witnesses are called almost exclusively to deal with white-collar criminal trials, which are often high-profile cases. These witnesses have been involved in the financial sector for many years and are therefore more knowledgeable than almost anyone else.

2. Medical Expert

Injuries and other medical problems come up fairly often in court cases. These witnesses are almost always accomplished doctors who are well-versed in cases of malpractice and other general medical knowledge. Medical …

Finding a Bail Bondsman

Everyone makes poor choices, but some poor choices may land you in jail. In fact, due to the number of arrests each year, someone you know may end up arrested at some point. If you have to post bail for a friend or loved one, you may have to work with a bail bondsman. Before searching “bail bonds West Chester PA,” consider the following tips for finding the right bail bond company.

Referrals

Your best sources of bail bond company referrals are detention officers and court officials. You may also consult with your friends, family and coworkers. Your criminal lawyer will know reputable bail bondsmen as well. Ask whether the bail bondsman is easy to work with and how the process went.

Conduct an online review of the bond company. For example, contact the Better Business Bureau to determine the company’s rating and learn about any complaints that …

3 Signs of Domestic Abuse

When someone is abused by a partner, it can make them feel as though they are always at fault for everything and constantly afraid of punishment. Because the abuse may begin gradually, it can be easy for the abused person not to notice the warning signs right away. Abusers may try to mentally and emotionally control their partner and cut them off from family members and friends before physically harming anyone.

1. Physical Abuse

One of the most obvious signs of an abusive relationship is when one of the partners is physically harming the other. They may throw things, destroy furniture or punch walls when angry, which can lead to them pushing, hitting or kicking their partner. Physical abuse also includes things like withholding basic care needs, such as the ability to sleep, eat or get medical assistance. If someone is caught being physically abusive, they may be sentenced to …

Bail Bond Company Processes

Bail bondsmen post bail for people suspected of and charged with crimes. Their services allow defendants to return home between booking and trial, which allows them to return to work and spend time on their legal cases outside jail. Bail bond companies are subject to state laws. Therefore, before searching for “bail bonds Pennsylvania,” you may want to know a little about these companies.

What They Do

When a person is charged for a crime, a judge will set a bail amount that must be paid to the courts before the defendant is released from jail. Defendants typically cannot afford to pay their own bail. These individuals may seek help from friends and family, but often they still cannot afford to pay the bail in full.

Bail bond companies charge a fee (typically around 10%) to sell surety bonds to suspects or their families. They may require collateral, …