When the charges you face are reduced, you will be charged with less serious crimes, which is good news for you. There are several reasons why the prosecution may choose to reduce your charges. As a result, you could end up serving a considerably lighter sentence with...
Many people assume that those who “plead the Fifth,” or invoke their Fifth Amendment rights when under law enforcement questioning or when testifying in court or other legal proceedings are guilty of some sort of crime. After all, the Fifth Amendment states that no...
Could you be arrested for involvement in a crime you knew nothing about until after it occurred? It’s possible that you could be charged with being an accessory after the fact. Just learning that a friend or acquaintance committed a crime and not reporting it likely...
The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution protects people in the United States from unreasonable searches. The police can't just go into a random person's home or vehicle to look for a way to accuse them of a crime. Typically, police officers either need enough...
The courts like to use plea deals for many reasons, such as cutting back on the amount of cases they have to schedule and getting results without a trial. Essentially, you’ll be told that you can plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to have the greater charge...
In the movies, police officers tend to start reciting a person’s Miranda Rights as they arrest them. While putting on the handcuffs, an officer will say that the person has a right to remain silent and that anything they say can be used against them in court. In real...
Most criminal trials in Louisiana involve a process called "discovery." This process allows the court to learn more about the case and gather important context. Typically, this involves witnesses, specialists and character witnesses testifying in court. What could the...
Louisiana citizens who are charged with a crime have various rights. One of the most important is their Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury. However, what exactly is a speedy trial, and is it really in your best interest to ask for one? What...
Louisiana residents who have been charged with a crime might be looking forward to taking to the stand to proclaim their innocence. However, many people are surprised to find that their lawyer advises against taking the stand. There are actually many different reasons...