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....
Criminal Defense
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...
Ohio involuntary manslaughter laws
Ohio residents face involuntary manslaughter charges when they are accused of unintentionally taking the life of another person or an unborn child while attempting to commit another crime. If prosecutors study the facts of the case and determine that the suspect acted...
Is parole in Ohio difficult for older inmates?
Some crimes are so severe that convictions lead to lengthy prison terms. Someone serving a 40-year sentence likely realizes parole won't come early or easy. Older inmates who received prison sentences before 1996 may feel the Ohio Parole Board's standards for...
Do constitutional rights outweigh patient confidentiality?
Every American's constitutional rights are critical, but patient confidentiality is important as well. Therapist-patient confidentiality gives a person the right to keep their records private. Criminal defense teams in Ohio and around the country sometimes have...
False positives raise questions about police dog training
Ohio residents likely know that our canine companions have far more sensitive noses than we do, which is why the military uses dogs to sniff out roadside bombs and law enforcement uses them to find drugs. However, these working dogs are only as effective as their...