Category: Criminal Defense

The Hidden Costs of a Criminal Conviction in Minneapolis, MN

A criminal conviction can significantly affect your life, both at the personal and community level. Securing a job, housing, student loan, or travel permit may become difficult. Damage to personal and professional relationships and mental health problems can also stem from the conviction.

Alternatives to Prison in Criminal Cases in Minnesota

The alternatives to prison in Minneapolis, Minnesota, include probation, drug courts, mental health courts, and restorative justice programs. These alternative sentences are usually offered to people found guilty of committing crimes. They reduce recidivism, save money, keep families together, and help rehabilitate offenders.

Can You Defend Yourself in Court?

People facing criminal charges in Minnesota often ask, “Can you defend yourself in court?” You can represent yourself in court when charged with a crime. Self-representation, however, is not typically in the accused's best interests, even if courts allow it.

What Are the Charges for Assault in Minnesota?

People accused of or under investigation for assault might ask, “What are the charges for assault?” Minnesota has five levels of assault charges. First-degree assault is the most serious offense, and a conviction often results in the most severe penalties, like long prison time and hefty fines.

How to Beat an Assault Charge

Knowing how to beat an assault charge in Minneapolis, MN, can help you avoid a conviction and other consequences that come with it. Hiring a criminal defense attorney is your best bet at emerging victorious when facing an assault charge.

What Is the Exclusionary Rule in a Criminal Case?

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.

What Are the Charges for Leaving the Scene of an Accident?

The Minnesota hit-and-run statute covers collisions involving unattended vehicles and fixed objects. As such, you must stop at the collision scene if your vehicle hits an unattended vehicle. The law also mandates you to find out what was hit. If it's clear that the accident caused physical damage to the unattended vehicle, you have to locate and alert the vehicle's owner or driver. You also need to give this information to a police officer. The report should include your name, address, vehicle registration details, and insurance information. For a collision i

Can the Prosecution Appeal a Not Guilty Verdict?

Involve a criminal appeal attorney soon after you learn the prosecution is appealing your sentence. Your attorney will walk you through the involving and confusing sentencing guidelines. An attorney's involvement will also help you develop a defense strategy for the appeal.