Witness Rights

Witness Rights

You may be called as a witness in a court case if you see someone commit a crime or have valuable information relevant to the case. Witness testimony plays an essential role within our legal system. Your information can assist the court or jury in understanding a case...
Victim Rights

Victim Rights

Navigating court proceedings can be challenging and emotional for crime victims. But understanding your rights can help you regain a sense of control and help ensure your rights are being attended to. Every state has specific standards regarding victim rights....
How can you get your criminal record expunged?

How can you get your criminal record expunged?

Because a criminal record can negatively impact your life in so many ways, it’s essential to minimize and, hopefully, remove charges as soon as possible. Fortunately, some aspects of your criminal record can be sealed or expunged by a court or a judge. But these...
What is a criminal record?

What is a criminal record?

A criminal (or crime) record contains a summary of all your contacts with law enforcement agencies. It contains information on all: Arrests Convictions Sentences Parole violations Dismissals Not guilty verdicts However, civil judgments, like creditor actions and...
Appeals

Appeals

A defendant who is found guilty may appeal the ruling to a higher court if they believe they were wrongfully convicted or received a sentence that was too harsh. In criminal cases, a defendant can appeal a guilty verdict, but the prosecutor can not appeal a not guilty...
Parole

Parole

An offender may be granted parole after serving part of their incarceration sentence if found eligible by a parole board. Typically, an offender must appear before the parole board at a hearing. If parole is granted, the person is released from jail or prison but must...