13 Federal Crimes that are Almost Too Bizarre to Believe
Talk about things that make you go hmmm. Here’s a look at 13 strange federal crimes that are still on the books today.
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What’s the Difference Between a Federal Criminal Complaint & Indictment?
Federal Criminal Complaint & Indictment While most offenses people hear about in the movies or the news involve state crimes such as murder , burglary, drug possession, and the like, the U.S. Government prosecutes many crimes federally. Common offenses prosecuted by the feds include drug possession, child pornography, wire fraud, Medicaid fraud, and selling
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Trial by Judge or Jury: A Look at the Pros and Cons
Trial by Judge or Jury? When people think of a criminal trial, they often envision 12 jurors, a judge, and opposing attorneys making impassioned arguments about truth and justice. While many trials play out this way, others move forward without one of these elements: a jury. Even though the criminal justice system guarantees defendants the
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Confidential Informants: Exceptions to Informer Privilege
Confidential Informants Often fodder for Hollywood blockbusters such as Black Mass, Reservoir Dogs, and The Departed, the secrecy surrounding the identity of confidential informants has always captivated the public. Though the film world has undoubtedly glamorized the life of a confidential informant by adding a dramatic flair to their undercover lives, the plotlines focused on
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Backpage Craigslist Arrests: Prostitution and Sex Trafficking Stings
Backpage and Craigslist: Playgrounds for Police For years, websites such as Backpage.com and Craigslist.com have been attractive arenas for law enforcement agents to conduct sting operations looking for both prostitutes and for johns (solicitors of prostitution.) It is not uncommon for police officers to call ads off of Backpage.com or Craigslist.com to find and arrest
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When Clowning Around Becomes Criminal
The creepy clown epidemic, which began with a single sighting and gained traction on social media, has turned into a full-blown hysteria that has swept the nation.  Since the initial sighting in South Carolina on August 29, 2016, 32 more states have reported sightings of individuals dressed as clowns. Reports range from innocent sightings in large
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Courtroom Etiquette 101: The Do’s And Don’ts Of The Courtroom
For one reason or another, just about everyone will enter a criminal courtroom at some point in their lives. Whether you’re a defendant, a potential juror, or a college student researching a class assignment, proper courtroom etiquette is required. Saying, doing, or wearing the wrong thing in court is a surefire way to get shown
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Can You Predict a Verdict Based on Length of Jury Deliberations?
The Right to a Jury Trial in Criminal Cases The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees individuals the right to a trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases. In 49 of the 50 states (and in all federal courts), the jury’s verdict must be unanimous (Oregon still permits verdicts if at least 10
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“Sudden Passion” Murder Cases in Texas
Sudden Passion & Murder in Texas A wife comes home early one day and discovers her husband engaged in sexual activity with another woman. Enraged, the woman goes to her closet, retrieves a gun, and kills his lover. At her murder trial, the wife’s attorney asks the jury to consider whether the wife acted in
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