Children who accuse an adult of abuse should be listened to and their allegation investigated. However, in some cases, sadly, an adult tells a child to give an untrue account to investigators and in court. Adults are not supposed to do this, of course, but they may...
What is nonconsensual pornography?
With everyone having cameras at their fingertips via their smartphones, it’s only natural that some people are going to use it to take sexually explicit images of themselves or others. Couples may keep them for themselves or share them with each other. However, there...
Suspect in a crime? Person of interest? What’s the difference?
The police tend to throw around the terms “suspect” and “person of interest” quite a bit when they’re talking to the media about a crime that’s captured some attention. What exactly do those words mean in that context? Are they interchangeable? If you’re a suspect,...
Domestic violence: What is it, and who can be charged?
Domestic violence is against the law and can lead to serious penalties. Despite the fact that domestic violence is a common problem, however, not everyone understands what kinds of actions may be considered domestic violence and when someone may turn to the law for...
How might a domestic violence conviction adversely impact your child custody rights?
No jurisdiction guarantees you a right to custody of your kids. A judge can deprive you of visitation and even parental rights if that's what they deem to be in the best interests of your kids. Domestic violence is serious enough of a reason for custody to be limited...
When does sexting cross a legal line?
The internet and prevalence of cellphones have made it easy to stay in contact with loved ones and friends. While many people exchange harmless messages, there are times when messages may become sexual in nature. These are known as sexts and have become commonplace....
What should you do if you’re under federal investigation?
If you find out that you’re under federal investigation, it’s important that you know what you can do to protect yourself. First, understand that an investigation is just the first step in the federal criminal justice process. The goal of the authorities at that stage...
What you need to know about restitution and when a judge may order it
If you're facing fraud, embezzlement or other white-collar charges or any other type of federal ones for that matter, then you're probably not just facing imprisonment but also potential fines to include having to pay restitution. You may find it helpful to learn what...
What you need to know about the crime of human trafficking
Human trafficking has gained increased media attention in recent years, yet many don't clearly understand what this crime entails. It includes both sexual slavery and forced labor. States first started criminalizing the offense beginning in 2003, but it has only...
Clean slate opportunities open for Michiganders
It is no secret state jails are overcrowded. Many inmates are held for low-level infractions and misdemeanors. Unnecessarily high inmate populations have been made apparent by the COVID-19 pandemic, with case rates inside jail walls soaring. Governor Gretchen...
