Category: criminal law course

Situations Where You Would Need a Lawyer

There’s an often-repeated adage that says something like “a person who represents themselves in court has a fool for a lawyer.” Lawyers are highly trained and highly skilled to present arguments and have encyclopedia-like knowledge of legal statutes and precedents. While there are a few scenarios where legal documents are needed that you may be able to handle on your own, there are several where lawyers are essential to achieving a good outcome.

Preparing Estate Documents

One of the most common reasons the average person would need legal aid Marion NC is the preparation of estate documents, such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Most people don’t like to think about needing these documents, but not having them can cause your family lots of trouble. Lawyers prepare these items every day and can get you set up easily.

Criminal Defense

A less common and more extreme scenario would …

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 …

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 …

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, …

How Long After Posting Bail Will an Inmate Be Released?

A loved one’s arrest can be a scary and stressful event, and you may push for his or her release as soon as possible. Bail can certainly speed up the process, but how long after posting bail does the process take? The answer depends on a few different factors.

The Typical Bail Process Timeframe

Once bail has been posted, the discharge process can take as little as 30 minutes or as much as 24 hours. Typically, though, the whole process, from start to finish, takes between four and eight hours. Do not, however, quote your Sullivan County bail bonds agent on that, as the process is different for everyone, and circumstances unique to your loved one’s case can either shorten or lengthen the release process.

Factors That Affect the Speed of Discharge

For most families, it’s unrealistic to expect an inmate’s release within 30 minutes or even an hour. A …