Category: Criminal Defense

Could New Technology Free the Innocent in Minnesota Criminal Cases?

New DNA technology is helping to exonerate many prisoners who were wrongfully convicted for crimes they did not commit.

St Paul Homicides Doubled in 2019

In 2019, at least 30 people were killed in gun-related violence in St Paul, doubling the city's homicide rate. This is the most gun violence seen in the Capital City since 1992.

Three Types of Witness Testimony in a Criminal Case

There are three types of witnesses that may be called to testify in court for the defense or prosecution in a criminal case. Witnesses can provide important evidence, expert knowledge, and character assessments of a defendant.

You’re Not Guilty Just Because It Looks Fishy

A criminal conviction requires proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt because a guilty verdict can result in the deprivation of a defendant's freedom or even death, unlike a conviction in a civil trial where penalties are usually monetary.

Can Police Force You to Unlock Your Phone?

Police officers cannot force people to unlock their cell phones if they are arrested. This procedure violates Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.