Newsletters

RIGHT TO APPEAL

A defendant has a right to appeal his or her final judgment of conviction and sentence by a trial court to a state's appellate court. In order to be considered a defendant for purposes of an appeal, the defendant must have been charged with a crime or the defendant must have committed a criminal offense.

FALSE STATEMENT TO OBTAIN PROPERTY OR CREDIT

A person commits the offense of a false statement to obtain property or credit when he or she intentionally or knowingly makes a materially false or misleading statement to obtain property or credit on behalf of himself or herself or on behalf of another person. The false or misleading statement must be in writing.

Principals and Accessories

A defendant in an action may be charged as a principal offender of the underlying offense or an accessory to the underlying offense. Depending upon the defendant's actions and role in the offense, the prosecution will decide to charge the defendant as a principal or an accessory.

WARRANTLESS SEARCH - SEARCH IN AN INVESTIGATIVE STOP

If a police officer has a reasonable basis for believing that a person is involved in criminal activity or is about to be involved in criminal activity, the officer has a right to make an investigative stop of that person.

Criminal Violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

An individual who violates the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)may be charged in either a criminal or civil forum. OSHA was enacted to protect workers from unsafe conditions in the workplace.