If you watch the news, you might believe that we are currently experiencing a huge wave of shoplifting and other retail theft. But is that actually true? For those who live in large cities on both coasts, there does appear to be an increase in theft from retail stores...
Criminal Defense
If you get pulled over, do you have to answer questions?
Getting pulled over by the police can be nerve-racking and confusing. You may not know what you did wrong. You may be worried about getting arrested or getting a ticket. Often, it feels like you just have to do whatever the police tell you and hope that things work...
The problems that arise when the police use geofencing warrants
Law enforcement throughout Ohio and other states have many investigative tools at their disposal. However, some of these tools and technologies raise questions from the general public. One tool that has become a topic of concern is geofencing, which uses location data...
Understanding the components of a burglary charge in Ohio
In Ohio, burglary is a serious criminal offense that could result in jail time and hefty fines. Thankfully, it may be possible to have the court reduce or dismiss these charges if the defendant can prove that the prosecutor did not meet certain criteria, which...
What are the best ways to challenge field sobriety test results?
Being stopped by a police officer while driving in Ohio is a scary situation. If the officer suspects you are drunk, they may request you take field sobriety tests; however, failing doesn’t automatically mean you’re drunk. There are ways to challenge the results....
Is the bias in the cash bail system sufficient enough to end it?
When someone is arrested in Ohio, the judge could charge them a collateral fee known as a bond. The judge will set a bond to give the accused an opportunity to await their court date outside of jail. If a bond is set, but the pretrial detainee cannot pay it, he must...
Understanding the elements of burglary in Ohio
Burglary is a criminal offense that can be charged as a felony or misdemeanor. In order to be convicted of burglary, there are certain elements that must be present. A person getting into a building or occupied structure without permission This simply means that the...
What’s the difference between assault and battery?
Assault and battery in Ohio are considered crimes against the person, meaning they involve physical injury to another person. The difference between assault and battery is that an assault may be charged as a crime, but not all assaults result in charges of battery,...
Community residential sanctions in Ohio: Alternative to a jail term
When someone is convicted of a crime in Ohio, the court has several sentencing options available, including jail time, probation, and community residential sanction. In some cases, the court may also order a combination of community residential sanctions....
Police often lie to juvenile suspects
The U.S. Supreme Court has long held that police can lie to suspects when attempting to glean the truth about potential criminal activity. Ohio law enforcement officers commonly use deception to get at the truth when dealing with adult suspects or interviewees. The...