Category: Criminal Defense

So, what is the exclusionary rule, and how does it apply to your case? The exclusionary rule is a court-driven rule that takes effect when evidence in a criminal case is unlawfully obtained. In your case, a court might use the exclusionary rule if the illegally obtained evidence helped the officers get other pieces of evidence they would not have found otherwise.  The secondary evidence subject to the exclusionary rule is referred to as the fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine. The exclusionary rule borrows its reasoning from constitutional rights. So, it applies to criminal cases as a deterrent and remedy rather than a standalone constitutional right.

People who suspect that they have violated probation or are already facing a violation charge might ask, “What happens if you violate probation?” A probation violation in Minneapolis, Minnesota could result in a range of consequences, depending on the type and severity of the violation. Those consequences include reprimand from probation officers, enhanced supervision and stricter conditions, and probation revocation and incarceration.

Because fingerprints are generally considered unique, prosecutors often present fingerprint evidence as strong proof in criminal cases. However, fingerprint analysis is not always as straightforward as television crime shows make it appear. Fingerprint evidence is a type of forensic evidence used to connect a person to a crime scene, object, or location. Investigators collect fingerprints from surfaces such as weapons, vehicles, windows, phones, or packaging materials and compare them to known prints associated with a suspect.

Your first court date is not just a formality. It sets the tone for your case and can influence what happens next. Knowing your rights, your options, and what the court expects from you can make a meaningful difference.

What makes a crime a felony is the severity of the offense and the penalties it carries, specifically whether it is punishable by more than one year in prison. 

A warrant does not automatically mean you will be arrested immediately, but it does mean law enforcement has the authority to detain you. Knowing what to do if you have a warrant, and acting quickly and strategically can make a difference in how your case unfolds.

If you contact the alleged victim after charges are filed in Minnesota, you may be putting your case, your freedom, and your future at risk. Once criminal charges are filed, courts often impose strict no-contact conditions, either through bail conditions, release orders, or protective orders. Violating those conditions can lead to additional criminal charges, even if your intent was harmless.

Criminal defendants who interact with police officers for the first time are often left wondering, “Can the police lie to you during an interrogation?” Police officers can lie to you during an interrogation. In fact, deception is a lawful and fully permitted police technique provided the officers do not use it to force a confession. Police often claim possession of non-existent evidence or witnesses to trick you into disclosing information that can aid their investigation.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has suspended breathalyzer testing statewide after discovering significant human errors with the maintenance of these devices. The errors may have compromised the accuracy of hundreds, potentially thousands, of driving while intoxicated (DWI) breath tests conducted across the state.