Anyone can have a run-in with the law, even if your only prior offense is a minor traffic ticket. If you find yourself in the back of a squad car, you may not understand where you’re going or what’s going to happen. In this situation, it’s extremely important for you…
In defending persons accused of retail fraud, it is important to understand the procedures used by major retail stores in their investigations. Mistakes in judgment sometimes occur – leading to false arrests. Sometimes the situation is misinterpreted by loss prevention and police officers due to cultural issues. Procedural errors can…
The Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) provides an avenue for persons that are from 17 years old to before the person’s 21st birthday (at the time of the offense) to avoid a conviction and Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) compliance. Although a Defendant charged with a sex offense might be…
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oakland County is the second most populated county in Michigan with a population of over 1.2 million residents. A large population can lead to strict law enforcement and heavily policed streets. Over 25,000 Oakland County arrests were made in 2012 alone, according to a…
If you have been accused of a crime, you must retain the services of a criminal defense attorney immediately. Finding the right criminal defense attorney is crucial to the outcome of your case and will impact the rest of your life. Don’t put your future at stake—take great care when…
The following are a list of case abbreviations used in Michigan Courts for misdemeanors, felonies, criminal appeals, forfeiture, and juvenile offenses for alleged state law and ordinance violations. They are often referred to as case codes. These two letter abbreviations follow the case number that appears on every Court…
In jails and correctional facilities there is more often than not a sign posted at the pay telephone in the jail that calls are subject to monitoring. Many incarcerated individuals either ignore the sign, or forget about the warning, when calling the outside world. My practice has always been to…
Victims of crime often suffer many forms of mental, emotional, and financial injury as a result of actions of others. Pursuing justice is often a daunting, intimidating process that can lead a crime victim to feel helpless. In Michigan, many people are unaware that crime victims have rights that are…
Persons who are not citizens of the United States often have trouble obtaining driver’s licenses in the State of Michigan. With the state of public transportation, the only way for persons to get from one destination to another is by automobile. If person cannot obtain a Michigan driver’s license, what…
The Urban Drug Court is a sentencing option for persons convicted of non violent crimes that occur in the city of Pontiac, Michigan. The residency of the Defendant does not have to be in Pontiac – just the non violent crime must have occurred there. A violent crime is defined as…