You were shopping at the mall when the cashier suddenly made a phone call. She claims it's to verify your card, and she won't return it. Moments later, she tells you she won't return the card because it isn't yours.This is a common practice in some businesses to help...
Year: 2017
How are sexual assault cases handled in Minnesota?
Sexual assault is a serious allegation and it carries significant penalties. Depending on the state, these penalties will vary in severity. But in general, all of the states subject people convicted of sexual assault to immense legal penalties. There are also federal...
Drugged driving surpasses drunk driving in fatal wrecks
A report released by the combined efforts of the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility found that drugs are now more likely to be the cause of a fatal accident than intoxication due to alcohol. The results are...
Top household items mistaken for drug paraphernalia
While people generally know that using nonprescription drugs is illegal, they may not know that possessing items used in the consumption of those drugs is also illegal. Surprisingly, many of the items considered drug paraphernalia are actually things that many people...
What to expect and do if you’re accused of shoplifting
Any type of theft crime can land you in hot water with the law. For example, an accusation of shoplifting is nothing to take lightly. If you assume that this will have no impact on your life, you may find yourself surprised at what the future brings.Here are a few...
Every drug case is a little different
In our last post, we talked about the scheduling system and the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. This seminal piece of legislation forever changed how the US tackled drug crimes, and we've been in the "War on Drugs" ever since. The "success," so much as it is, of...
Let’s talk about the Controlled Substances Act
You probably don't think about the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 that much on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis. But it is one of the most important pieces of legislation in the world of criminal law in the last half-century. The Controlled Substances Act...
N-Dex database being rolled out to police in Minneapolis
Police in Minneapolis are poised to have more information to help them solve crimes. Among other things, the N-Dex database, created and used by the FBI, will make it easier for law enforcement officers to quickly get information about criminals across state lines....
On DUI expungement, and why it is still important
In our last post, we talked about expungement and how the Minnesota Supreme Court narrowly decided that the "Second Chance" law in this state did not apply to an individual who had criminal conviction downgraded to a misdemeanor. This meant he would not be able to...
Supreme Court rules against expungement in some cases
Lawyers recently argued in the Court of Appeals, as well as the Third District, that a man whose conviction was downgraded to a "misdemeanor" after he completed probation should be eligible to have his record expunged based on Minnesota's Second Chance Law. They lost...