In Indiana, a court may impose a bail bond against the person charged with a crime. The purpose of a court imposing bail is to either: ensure the individual’s appearance at court; ensure another person’s physical safety; or to ensure the safety of the public at large.1 However, many individuals are unable to post the amount required. So, what do those individuals do? Do they have to just sit in jail? In this blog, we look at how an individual may be able to reduce the amount ... Read More
27
Mar2020
13
Mar2020
Being accused and arrested for a crime is a scary and frustrating experience for individuals. This experience can be all the more freighting if you are not guilty of the crime. When individuals find themselves in this unfortunate situation, it is important to remember that you have rights! Law enforcement officers will only provide you with your right as they are constitutionally required to do so, so it is going to be up to you to understand your rights. In this blog, we ... Read More
04
Mar2020
In essence, juvenile delinquency is basically the same as a criminal charge for an adult. However, there are some major differences between the two that an engaged citizen should know. Many people would be shocked to know that juveniles do not have all of the same rights as adults when a juvenile is accused of committing a delinquent act. The reasoning behind the lack of certain rights is due to the purpose and nature of juvenile delinquency proceedings as ... Read More
28
Feb2020
Protective Orders are powerful tools in the legal sphere. Protective Orders can be used to help ensure the safety of individuals in dangerous situations, such as victims of domestic violence, or minors in an abusive household. While Protective Orders are a powerful tool that can be used for good, they can also, by design, be used to wrongfully harm an individual who is not a threat to anyone. This blog provides a brief overview of protective orders, the ramifications of the same, and when you may ... Read More
09
Jan2020
Indiana provides parties involved in legal disputes, whether it be criminal or civil in nature, with the opportunity to appeal the outcome of the case, albeit, with some exceptions. Like most everything else in life, an individual’s entitlement to an appeal is not absolute. There are certain requirements that must be met in order to effectively preserve your ability to pursue an appeal. In this blog, we look at three basic components to an appeal and provide a brief overview of information so that you do not ... Read More
18
Oct2019
The Indiana Civil Protective Order Act (“Act”) provides powerful relief to help ensure the safety of certain covered Hoosiers who find themselves in dangerous situations, such as a victim of domestic violence. Additionally, the Act covers certain minor children in harmful situations or individuals, such as from an abusive or drug-addicted parent. While protective orders issued under the Act are unique and powerful tools, they may be abused in cases by a petitioner’s false allegations and issued against a person who is not a threat to anyone. ... Read More
03
Oct2019
Most everyone has had the unenviable experience of being pulled over. Whether it’s a speeding ticket, or a warning for expired plates, being pulled over is pretty unpleasant time. Fortunately, these encounters tend to be brief and somewhat painless. Sometimes, however, they are not. What started as a simple traffic stop may quickly escalate into something more. This blog provides a brief overview of your rights during a traffic stop.
The Fourth Amendment protects against “unreasonable searches and seizures.” A seizure, for Fourth Amendment purposes, occurs ... Read More
27
Sep2019
The short answer is no. You are not required to talk to the police at any point in time, even if you are charged with a crime. You are, however, required to provide officers with your name if asked, but beyond that, you do not have to answer questions. This blog covers a basic overview of police encounters and your rights during the same.
The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution provides you with two powerful weapons ... Read More
25
Sep2019
Unfortunately, the answer is, it depends. Generally speaking, police officers are required to obtain a warrant from a neutral magistrate before conducting a search or seizure. Evidence obtained in violation of this general rule is excluded at trial by a motion to suppress. There are, of course, exceptions that you should be aware of to avoid unnecessary risk. This blog provides a brief explanation of the warrant requirement, looks at the exceptions, and most importantly, illustrates the importance of good trial counsel.
The Fourth Amendment of ... Read More
24
Sep2019
Parents constantly worry about their children. The problem is magnified when the threat of harm to the children comes from your ex (or biological parent) as like you, they too have a fundamental right to raise their children. However, courts treat abuse—particularly physical abuse very seriously— as they are charged with always looking out for the children’s best interests. This blog covers legal tools you may engage to obtain “protection” for you children to key evidence you may need to make your case.
Depending ... Read More