Being accused of criminal wrongdoing, let alone convicted of such, can be an ordeal. It's hard to fully understand, however, just how much even a single criminal charge can affect your life. Let's take a look at a hypothetical scenario involving a person we’ll call “Todd,” who has been charged with a crime. Charged, but not convicted First, let's be clear that this is the less … [Read more...]
Facing Conviction? Learn About Deferred Adjudication
When you’re facing a possible conviction, you may feel like you don’t have any options. But you do. One of those options is deferred adjudication. What is deferred adjudication? Deferred adjudication is a type of plea deal where you essentially avoid a trial and may also avoid conviction. Even if you enter a guilty plea or plead “no contest” to a charge, the judge “defers” … [Read more...]
Should Criminal Defendants Take a Plea Deal?
You’ve seen and heard it many times on those courtroom-centered TV shows: “We’ll take the plea deal.” “We’re NOT taking the plea deal!” It’s a common term, but you may not know what it is. What’s a plea deal? (Or plea bargain or plea agreement...) Either way, it involves a defendant pleading “guilty” to a lesser charge instead of going to trial and possibly getting a … [Read more...]
More Than Stealing: What Constitutes a Theft Charge?
When you think of the word “theft,” someone swiping a candy bar or wallet may come to mind; however, did you know that “theft” is actually a broad term when it comes to criminal offenses? Legally, theft can encapsulate more than the most common, general definition. Theft is defined legally as the taking of someone else’s property with the purpose of never returning it. This … [Read more...]
False Allegations Against Chris Hardwick Show Dangers of Public Hysteria
Chris Hardwick recently made headlines when he was accused by an ex-girlfriend of sexually assaulting her. Actress Chloe Dykstra made the claim that an ex-boyfriend had sexually assaulted her; however, she did not exclusively name Hardwick as the perpetrator. Due to Hardwick being her boyfriend from 2011-2014, he was quickly labeled as the assaulter. Hardwick denied the … [Read more...]
Shocking Statistics for False Accusations Awareness Month
June has been designated False Allegations Awareness Month in the United States, with discussions and events being held around the country to shed light on those who have been falsely accused of various sex crimes. These statistics show how wide-spread the issue of false accusation is in the U.S.: One in six individuals know someone who has been falsely accused of … [Read more...]
