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Police are increasingly relying on "surreptitious DNA collection" - grabbing publicly available, private DNA – off abandoned food, soda cans, car doors, even cigarette butts. Because its impossible for people to avoid leaving their DNA behind on abandoned items, the practice has stirred controversy.
The case illuminates a tactic called "surreptitious DNA collection" that is showing to be more of a common technique used in cold cases.
However, there are two different kinds of joint custody: joint legal custody and joint physical custody. Parents may also request a combination of both joint physical and joint legal custody. Parents should consider each option carefully as they prepare for child custody proceedings.
Many parents strive to win joint custody of their children. Learn more about the different types and what's needed to win.
Prosecutors in criminal cases have a duty to preserve evidence that is both "material" and "exculpatory." Evidence is material if it is important and relevant to an issue in the defendant's case. And evidence is exculpatory when it supports a defense or tends to clear the defendant of guilt. If such evidence is lost, destroyed or withheld by the prosecution, the defendant can claim a violation of due process rights.
Custody agreements are designed to remain in place for the long-term to provide stability for children. But there are some reasons a judge will change custody arrangements. It’s best to talk with a family lawyer about whether your situation necessitates a modification.
When you divorce or separate and have children, a custody order is e put in place. This specifies how physical custody is shared (which refers to where a child spends time). It also dictates who has legal custody (the right to make decisions for a child). Custody agreements are designed to remain
An estimated 60 percent of those leaving prison are unemployed a year later, though efforts to promote 'second-chance hiring' for candidates with criminal records have shown promise.
An estimated 64% of unemployed men have been arrested, and 46% have been convicted, according to an economist and a criminologist for the RAND Corp.
A criminal sentence may be modified or reduced in certain circumstances, Most jurisdictions allow a judge to modify sentences at any time in the interests of justice. But the law in most states, as well as federal law, places limits on making sentence modifications for other reasons. A lawyer can explain the possibility of requesting a sentencing reduction or modification in your case.
A prenup outlines how a couple's assets will be split up if they get divorced. The decision to get a prenup is one that each couple will have to make together. If you have any questions, it can be wise to speak with a family law attorney about your specific situation.
While a prenup can offer you protection in a divorce, it requires you and your spouse to have a few uncomfortable conversations.
Courts may grant requests to modify child support in some circumstances, such as when a parent's income has changed, or the child's needs have changed. A family law attorney can assist you in requesting modification.
Get helpful information and advice about reasons to modify your existing child support agreement, plus how to go about requesting a modification.
The US Supreme Court ruled for a former drug trafficker in his bid for a lesser sentence. In a unanimous ruling, the justices said a ban on concurrent sentences in one section of the criminal code for drug-related gun crimes doesn’t govern a sentence for a conviction under another section of the law.
The US Supreme Court ruled for a former drug trafficker in his bid for a lesser sentence.
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a man whose conviction on gun charges was called into question by a recent high court decision cannot reopen his case.
The Supreme Court has ruled that a man whose conviction on gun charges was called into question by a recent high court decision is out of luck.
Joint legal custody means that both parents have the legal authority to make major decisions for the child. These include decisions regarding education, religion, and health care. Parents should be aware, too, that legal custody is separate from physical custody.
Courts routinely award joint legal custody. Knowing exactly what this means (and doesn't) can help you understand the boundaries for the road ahead.
A statute of limitations sets a time limit for when criminal charges can be filed. The length of that limit depends on what crime is committed, and varies by state. In many cases, a defendant's time spent out of state will not count toward the time limit. This is to prevent suspects from fleeing the state to avoid prosecution.
Although racketeering was originally associated with organized crime, the definition has expanded over the years as organized crime has become deprioritized by the Department of Justice.
Racketeering is organized criminal activity done to make a profit and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
If you’re receiving or paying child support via a court order, it’s important to understand how those payments are calculated.
Child support is designed to meet the financial needs of children following a divorce or separation. Learn how child support is calculated and paid.
Joint custody may refer to joint physical custody, joint legal custody, or both. Joint physical custody is when the child spends substantial time living with both parents. Joint legal custody is when both parents have the legal right to make important decisions on behalf of the child.
If two people share a child but do not want to raise that child together in a nuclear family, then decisions usually must be made about child custody. This can happen in a divorce or in a stand alone custody case. There are many different custody arrangements, but joint custody is one of the most
There were a record 238 exonerations in 2022, according to a database maintained by the National Registry of Exonerations.
Globally, potential innocence has long outweighed potential guilt. That philosophy of justice may not be one that the majority of Americans endorse.
A person who is formally accused of a crime is generally entitled to certain evidence and information about the prosecution's case. This typically happens before trial, through a process called "discovery." But the prosecution's duty to disclose this material is usually ongoing, and doesn't end when a trial has begun.
A prenup is a pre-marriage agreement that proposes special rules for distributing wealth should a couple divorce. When you don't get a prenup, state law determines who gets what after a divorce.
A whopping 15% of couples get prenups, up from 3% in 2010. Find out why a prenup matters more than ever to divorcees.
While police generally need a warrant to search your property, a car has fewer protections against searches. Police can search your car if they have probable cause, or if you consent to a search.
Wildlife geneticists were able to recover and analyze trace amounts of human DNA lingering in the environment, raising concerns among privacy advocates who think that the tool could be misused.
Wildlife geneticists were able to recover and analyze trace amounts of human DNA lingering in the environment, raising concerns among privacy advocates who think that the tool could be misused.
Co-parenting most often describes a family situation in which two separated or divorced parents are taking care of their children together. From mixed-up emotions to crazy schedules, new spouses to shared custody agreements, single moms and dads face a whole slew of unique challenges.
Sharing parenting duties with your ex is often the hardest part of divorce. From joint custody agreements to communication and scheduling tips, consider this your guide to creating a successful co-parenting strategy.
Am I allowed to move if I am on probation or parole?
Before moving, a probationer or parolee must get permission from the court or their probation or parole officer, who considers the reasons for moving and whether the new location allows them to maintain supervision.
Parents whose current child custody arrangement no longer works for them may need to request a child custody modification in court.
Considering a child custody modification? Here are five situations that demand the revision of your current child custody arrangement.
The Justice Department is stepping up pressure on state and local judges to reduce fines and fees charged in their courts.
The Biden administration warned officials that charging exorbitant court fees is discriminatory, unfair and a violation of the Eighth Amendment.
A cohabitation agreement is a legal contract signed by people who want to live together without getting married but still want to codify an understanding of financial, medical or funerary obligations to one another until and after the relationship is dissolved, or if one partner dies.
This legal document outlines financial and behavioral rights and obligations between unmarried partners.
Law regarding the use of breathalyzer tests can vary by state. Regardless of where you are, if your BAC is over the legal limit, you may be arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
You can refuse a breathalyzer test, but there are significant consequences. Breathalyzer laws vary by state, but it's often risky to refuse the test.
A federal judge’s decision to remove unvaccinated potential jurors did not violate two defendants’ Sixth Amendment right to have their cases heard by a fair cross section of the community, a federal appeals court has ruled.
A federal judge’s decision to remove unvaccinated potential jurors did not violate two defendants’ Sixth Amendment right to have their cases heard by a fair cross section of the community, a federal appeals court has ruled.
Child custody can be one of the most difficult issues to resolve when a couple separates or divorces. A family law attorney provides invaluable help in understanding your rights and navigating the court process to help you maximize the chances of getting your preferred custody arrangement.
Families today look very different than in the past. Pew Research revealed just 46% of children 18 and younger live with two married heterosexual parents who have never been divorced. By contrast, 34% live with an unmarried parent while 15% live with two parents who are in remarriages. When a chi
At least 6,182 people died in state and federal prisons in 2020, a 46% jump from the previous year, according to data recently released by researchers from the UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project.
As U.S. life expectancy falls, experts say incarceration has serious health impacts. The U.S. has one of the highest rates of people in prison or jail in the developed world.
The Supreme Court will consider an appeal by a man charged with violating an anti-stalking statute. The question before the court is whether the man's online messages are protected by the first amendment, or whether they constitute "true threats."
The upcoming Supreme Court case Counterman v. Colorado could have sweeping consequences not just for victims of cyberstalking but for online speech writ large.
Prenuptial agreements are becoming more popular as a way to protect oneself in a marriage. They can help to clarify who will be responsible for specific debts and assets after a divorce.
They have long been considered unromantic, but prenuptial agreements are being embraced by some couples as a way to protect themselves on their own terms.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether the “innocent owners” of cars seized because of the arrests of their relatives are entitled to a probable cause hearing before forfeiture proceedings begin.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether the “innocent owners” of cars seized because of the arrests of their relatives are entitled to a probable cause hearing before forfeiture proceedings begin.
False identification in the justice system is a problem that long predates facial recognition technology.
Law enforcement, from police to ICE, are using facial recognition technology — sometimes leading to wrongful arrests.
Federal inmates who were allowed to serve their prison terms at home during the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to remain there after the Biden administration lifts the public health emergency, under new rules unveiled by the U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday.
Federal inmates who were allowed to serve their prison terms at home during the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to remain there after the Biden administration lifts the public health emergency, under new rules unveiled by the U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday. The regulations are expected to provide...
A custodial parent cannot deny court ordered visitation. The custodial parent must go to court and request modification of a custody agreement if the parent no longer believes the existing visitation schedule is working.
When two parents raise a child separately, a variety of complicated issues can arise. For example, the custodial parent may wonder, when can you deny visitation rights to the non-custodial parent? This guide explains everything you need to know to answer this important question.
A man spent several days in jail, falsely accused of stealing purses in a state he said he had never even visited, due to a bad facial recognition match.
Because of a bad facial recognition match and other hidden technology, Randal Reid spent nearly a week in jail, falsely accused of stealing purses in a state he said he had never even visited.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission approved new guidelines on Wednesday that will expand federal inmates' ability to qualify for compassionate release from prison.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission approved new guidelines on Wednesday that will expand federal inmates' ability to qualify for compassionate release from prison.
A prenuptial agreement outlines certain property rights and financial assets that each person holds before they marry, and lays out how those assets are to be divided in the event of a split.
Few people get married thinking they're going to get divorced. Or about divvying up money or assets after a marriage ends.
Sole Custody is an arrangement where one parent is the only one to have either legal custody, physical custody, or both. Even when a parent has sole physical custody of a child, the other parent may be awarded visitation time with the child.
There are different kinds of custody arrangements when parents decide not to raise a child in one household as a nuclear family. Sole custody is one of those arrangements. What is sole custody? This guide explains what this custody arrangement is, when it is appropriate and how it affects a paren
There have been at least 3,287 exonerations recorded by the National Registry of Exonerations since 1989. More than 29,100 years have been “lost” in prison due to “wrongful convictions” that have been uncovered thus far, according to the registry.
Over 29,100 years have been 'lost' in prison due to wrongful convictions, as Sidney Holmes' 400-year prison sentence garners attention amid his exoneration.
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