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Like anything having to do with the law, the question of whether you should testify in your own trial is hardly an absolute. While you may have heard the vast majority of defense lawyers advise against the defendant taking the stand, the reality is a little more complex. Sometimes it’s a good idea. Sometimes it’s…

It happens all the time in novels and on television. The bad guy goes around doing terrible things. The hero cop drags the bad guy in. Then, they get to court. “He got off on an insanity plea,” Hero Cop says, grunting in disgust. Maybe the cop tosses down a shot of alcohol or stares…

You’re finally out of the interrogation room. You’ve been bailed out of jail. You’ve even obtained a private lawyer who can help you with your case. Right now, your situation is about as good as it can get, right? So maybe you feel like you can relax a little while awaiting trial. But the entire…

We’ve spent some time on our blog talking about the issues surrounding bail reform in America. Here in New York, one of the big cases that brought attention to this issue was the Kalif Browder case. The case also brought the issue of solitary confinement into the conversation about justice reform. The Story in Brief…

When you take a plea bargain you agree to plead guilty to a lesser crime than the one you’ve been charged for. This usually results in a reduction in your sentence and will allow you to count time served against the sentence you receive. Other stipulations, such as giving up information about other criminal activities…

If you’ve read other posts on this blog you already know you shouldn’t talk to the police. However, this basic point requires a little more expansion. Did you know, for example, that it’s possible to waive this right by accident, even after invoking it? Or the different ways seemingly harmless comments could be used against…

There are few things more terrifying than an arrest. Emotions run high, especially fear, and anger. You may also be humiliated and outraged, especially if you know you’re innocent. It’s really easy to make mistakes under these circumstances. These mistakes can cost you your freedom, even if you are innocent. Resisting arrest, or appearing to.…

When you need to post bail you may believe any bail bondsman will do. But the practices of the professional you choose can have a big impact on your life moving forward. For example, you wouldn’t want to trust a bail agent who has been known to force customers to miss court dates, thus landing…