In identifying the perpetrator of a crime, major tasks might include sifting through the evidence for materials having characteristics that do not change over time. Fingerprints are examples of such characteristics. Another example of profiling technology is trace DNA...
If you found a harmful legal error that led to your conviction, you may file an appeal and request that a judge review your case. Showing that a mistake in the court’s actions or processing occurred may compel a judge to overturn a conviction. According to the...
The American legal system can be confusing. Because police detectives have extensive experience interviewing witnesses, the criminal justice process also can be intimidating. If you are not careful, you may say something prosecutors can use against you at trial....
Recently, the police involved you in a criminal investigation, saying they found your DNA at the crime scene. You may have a loose understanding of DNA fingerprinting, which law enforcement uses to identify individuals using strands of DNA, but do you know its...
White collar crimes are an informal category of charges that generally consists of forms of fraud or financial crimes. The term "white collar" refers to the social standing of those involved in the crime, usually corporate workers. White collar crime is typically...
If you are facing a criminal conviction, and you think that there was an error during your original trial, you have a right to appeal the decision. Because a conviction results in a major change of life circumstances, it may be worth examining the options for appeal....
Many in Maryland might find it difficult to not view a claim of self-defense with anything but skepticism. That likely comes from the idea that such an assertion is simply too convenient given the context. Yet it is that very context that may indeed justify one's...
Maryland considers first-degree murder the most serious type of homicide, i.e., causing the death of another human being, that a perpetrator can commit. FindLaw explains that Section 2-201 of the Maryland Criminal Law Code defines first-degree murder as the willful...
Expungement is the process of sealing a criminal record so the information no longer shows through most types of background checks. It is not available to everyone and does not apply to all situations. According to the Congressional Research Service, states typically...
When crime scene investigators gather evidence, they often take it to a lab for processing. They try to connect the hair samples, shoe prints or blood spatters they found at the crime scene to the suspect or potential perpetrator. Yet, some tests run by scientists may...