You knew you were in deep trouble when the police pulled up to your house. They'd tracked you down after an offense, and now you're being accused of charges that you feel are unfair and blown out of proportion.
Why do you need a criminal defense strategy?
Tips for reducing bias during a criminal trial
Having a conversation about race before, during and after a trial could help defendants in Wisconsin and throughout the country. There are many steps that attorneys may take to help jurors acknowledge their own biases and how they may influence how they evaluate a case. Attorneys are also encouraged to learn more about implicit bias and how it could influence their willingness to defend certain types of clients over others.
Miranda rights protect people against self-incrimination
Miranda warnings are well-known to many people in Wisconsin, especially as they have become famous as the indication of an arrest in movie and television police dramas. When people face an arrest themselves, however, they may not be sure how these warnings protect their rights. The Miranda warnings have been widely used since 1966 when a Supreme Court decision found that police have an obligation to notify people being arrested of their rights under the Fifth Amendment, which protects people against obligatory self-incrimination.
Racial disparity in prisons persists despite positive trends
While racial disparities in the criminal justice system have declined in the past 16 years, black men in Wisconsin and nationwide are still likelier to be imprisoned and receive longer sentences. These statistics come according to a study by the Council on Criminal Justice, a think tank that brings together concerned voices from both major political parties, law enforcement and criminal justice reform campaigns. The report notes that racial divisions in imprisonment for different types of crimes declined in local jails and state prisons as well as in the parole and probation systems.
Helping parents understand juvenile justice
When a minor commits a crime in Wisconsin, his or her parents may wonder what is going to happen next. Juvenile law is not the same as adult law, so it is important for parents to understand the process.
Wisconsin restaurant allegedly burglarized by ex-employee
The management of a restaurant in Racine, Wisconsin, recently fired an employee for reportedly not showing up to work. Following an apparently fruitless attempt to obtain his old job, he then allegedly used a key he kept for after-hours to break into the building. He now faces a felony count of burglary and a misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance in connection with the incident.
Evaluating inaccuracies in breath test results
Taking a roadside breath test may be intimidating, especially if you have been pulled over by a law enforcement officer. Officers use breath test devices to measure a driver’s blood alcohol content level and determine if he or she is driving above the legal limit. Yet, inaccuracies in breath test device results may lead to wrongful DUI charges.
Charges in hot car deaths follow no predictable pattern
Finding one or more children dead after accidentally leaving them in a hot car is every parent's worst nightmare. Unfortunately, the parents of approximately three dozen children across the country, including Wisconsin, experience this nightmare every year. At the Mayer Law Office, we know that if you are a parent in this scenario, you are probably filled with feelings of shock and confusion. Adding to the confusion is the uncertainty of not knowing whether you will face criminal charges for your tragic mistake.
Understanding the FIrst Step Act
People in Wisconsin who have been charged with criminal offenses have long been subject to some extended sentences due to laws that enforce mandatory minimums for the amount of time to be spent in a jail or a prison. Today, some defendants will not experience the same harshness that others have. This is due to some of the provisions in the First Step Act, signed recently by the President.
Oshkosh shooting results in arrest of 3 men
Very few in West Bend likely believe that they will ever be involved in criminal activity. Yet for outlandish as it may seem, oftentimes criminal activity can find individuals. People may find themselves in situations where they encounter others who may indeed be engaged in criminal actions, and their mere associations with such individuals are often met with criminal charges. They may have never intended to harm others, yet their "guilt by association" may leave them facing criminal scrutiny.
