Law enforcement officers can legally lie to suspects to get them to confess to a crime. They may tell them they have evidence they don’t have or that someone else turned on them, for example. However, when it’s a couple of 50-something detectives lying to a...
"The Highest Rate Of Acquittals and Dismissals"
— Equal Justice Foundation
"The Highest Rate Of Acquittals and Dismissals"
— Equal Justice Foundation
What are your options when you’re asked to enter a plea?
After an arrest, defendants are typically given arraignment, which is their first appearance in court. At that point, the judge will go over the existing charges and ask you to enter a plea. What are your options? Although you’ve likely discussed the situation with...
Potential penalties and defenses for burglary charges in Colorado
Unlawfully entering someone’s home or business without permission can easily result in burglary charges (even if you didn’t steal anything), and that can end up with significant repercussions for your life. If you are charged with burglary in Colorado, understanding...
Is it illegal to be rude to the police?
When you're considering how to interact with the police, people will often tell you that you should be respectful and that you should never be rude or aggressive. They'll warn you that acting this way can escalate an encounter with the police. It may have been a...
The problem with eyewitness accounts
You’re facing the nightmare scenario of going to trial for something you didn’t do. The police and prosecution claim that they have stacks of evidence against you, and amongst this evidence is eyewitness testimony. You have no idea how this is possible, but it’s...
How do you argue mistaken identity in a criminal case?
Being accused of a crime is, by all means, an unsettling experience. The situation becomes even more harrowing if you had nothing to do with the crime in question. If you are accused and charged with a crime you did not commit, you need to fight for justice. One of...
What you risk when you plead guilty to theft charges
Whether you got stopped by a loss prevention professional when attempting to leave a store or your employer accuses you of pilfering business supplies, your first instinct might be to plead guilty because you don't want to go to court. People worry about how the media...
Should defendants accept a plea deal for a felony offense?
The criminal justice system looks much different now than it did in past eras. Plea bargains, for example, have been around in some form since the 1600s, but they are more prevalent than ever in the 21st century. Today, plea bargains are deemed necessary to relieve...
Is entrapment a good defense against sting-related drug arrests?
Since the 1970s, law enforcement has relied on sting operations to arrest those who break the law. They can target any suspected criminal activity in a sting: drug dealing, internet luring, selling stolen goods, prostitution and many more. For those looking to make...
What is criminal impersonation in Colorado?
Make believe, or pretend, is a game for children, but some adults are tempted to play the game, too. However, if you impersonate someone or pretend to be another and benefit from the impersonation, you will face felony charges. The criminal impersonation of another...
