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In the recent case, Missouri v. McNeely, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that police officers must obtain a warrant before subjecting a suspected drunk driver to a blood test. Justice Clarence Thomas was the only justice to oppose the decision, making the final vote eight to one.
Entrapment refers to any situation where a person is induced or persuaded to commit a criminal offense by a police officer so that they can obtain evidence to prosecute that person. However, it is important to understand that entrapment does not refer to situations where the person was already pre-disposed to commit a crime and the law enforcement official was merely present to witness the action.
Prison overcrowding is a vast issue in Minnesota. With many policymakers insistent on the need for stricter sentencing and no tolerance for multiple-offense inmates, state prisons are bursting at the seams. Instead of reducing or eliminating prison terms for many non-violent inmates, especially those incarcerated for fraud and other white collar crimes, prisons are slowly releasing inmates in early release programs.
When law enforcement officers stop drivers for suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, they routinely administer field sobriety and breathalyzer tests to determine the extent of the drivers’ inebriation. The same often occurs when officers perform routine traffic stops and believe they have reason to suspect that drivers are under the influence of alcohol.
Although the consensus was far from unanimous, the Supreme Court ruled recently that law enforcement officials can take DNA swabs from those who are taken into custody for a serious criminal offense, regardless of whether or not they have been convicted. An article that was published in USA Today sheds light on the issue and the opinions of some of the Supreme Court members who voted.
If you are arrested, one of the first court proceedings that you will attend is the Bail Hearing. During the Bail Hearing, the judge will determine what bail should be required to permit release pending resolution of the charges.
We often hear these words uttered in everything from television crime dramas to news media broadcasts. But what do these words mean exactly? And what rights to they offer criminal defendants?
It is important you understand the answer to the question, “Does Minnesota have a stand your ground law?” is no. Instead, the state has a duty to retreat law that requires you to make reasonable attempts to escape before using force to defend yourself.
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