Have you been pulled over by a police officer and had your car searched without your consent? Have you had a search warrant executed at your home or workplace? If so, it's important to know your rights under the Fourth Amendment. In Ohio, a search and seizure can only occur if there is probable cause, as is the case with most other states.
Posting bail can pose a tremendous hardship on those arrested and their families, because without it, you’re forced to remain in jail. Plus, many families are simply unable to come up with the needed money. In fact, according to the ACLU, upwards of 12,000 people are held in jail each day in Ohio who haven’t yet been convicted, and many of them are there because they couldn’t afford bail.
From watching movies and TV shows filled with courtroom drama, we’re conditioned to believe that eyewitness testimony is always the deciding factor in criminal cases. However, the validity of eyewitness testimony can actually be questionable and while it certainly does play a big role in a criminal trial, it’s essential to understand its limits and its potential risks.
In 2018, the Ohio General Assembly passed a bill that shifted the burden of proof from defendants to prosecutors. This significant change means that prosecutors must now prove a charged individual did not act in self-defense.
Some people think that if they’re guilty of a crime, there’s no need for an attorney. Nothing could be further from the truth.
In 2021, more than 22,500 shoplifting charges were filed in the state of Ohio. And as a result, retail theft has led store owners to raise their prices to recoup their losses and cover additional expenses for security measures. For certain, retailers want to see anyone they believe to have stolen from them be prosecuted for the crime.
State of mind is often used as a defense in a criminal charge. It is a legal construct that people should only be convicted of a criminal offense if they intentionally broke the law or did so by negligence or recklessness. This raises the question about a person’s mental health issues which could affect their judgment, intent, and comprehension of the law.
In Ohio, a person may be arrested and charged with domestic violence for inflicting physical harm or injury on a family or household member. A domestic violence allegation or conviction can result in severe penalties and long-term consequences for the defendant.
Under Ohio law, causing (or attempting to cause) physical harm to a family, household member, or intimate partner may contitute a domestic violence charge. Convictions for these charges can lead to life-altering consequences, including losing the right to own, carry, or possess a gun or firearm.
If you're at risk of a domestic violence conviction, you could be facing severe penalties and life-long ramifications to your personal reputation, quality of life, liberty, career, and future. A seasoned Ohio criminal defense attorney can educate you about the costly consequences of a domestic violence charge and help strategize a solid defense.
