Parents should normally be contacted before the police interview a minor. The police can still legally interview a minor without the parents being present but this may provide a basis for challenging the validity of the confession. A minor has the same right as an adult to assert his or her right to remain silent [...]
By turning yourself in to the police, you will be subject to questioning and will be informing on yourself. The matter may never come to the attention of the police if the victim doesn't alert them to a potential criminal case. The police are the investigative arm of the prosecution. When a report is made [...]
There are no guarantees that your husband can stay out of jail but there are things he can to lessen the chances. The first thing to do is hire an experienced criminal defense attorney. Many times the defense lawyer will have had prior cases with the same prosecutor or may know the judge and his [...]
Please do not provide any statements to police officers or investigators regarding the facts of your case. You should not even discuss the case with any other person who may have an axe to grind against you. Any statement you make is called an admission and the person who took the statement or heard you [...]
If your car is used to transport controlled substances, Minnesota law authorizes the forfeiture of the vehicle under certain circumstances. The controlled substance being transported must have a retail value of either $75.00 or $100.00, depending on the type of forfeiture proceeding, and the drugs must be associated with a felony level offense. The possession [...]
For most people, a criminal jury trial is a totally unknown and scary prospect. What is likely to happen and how can you prepare yourself?The case will begin with jury selection. A jury panel will be brought into the court room and seated in the gallery. All of the prospective jurors on the panel will [...]
Before the police can arrest you for a DWI, they will need to establish probable cause to believe you were driving, operating or in physical control of a car while under the influence of alcohol. By requiring a suspect to submit to standardized field sobriety testing before an arrest is made, police can usually avoid [...]
"THE BEST DEFENSE"Effective July 1, 2011, Minnesota drivers who submit to blood, breath, or urine tests which indicate an alcohol concentration of .08 or more will now face longer license revocation periods under the new law. For a first time offender under the age of 21, the revocation period will increase to not less than [...]
"The Best Defense"Can the police arrest you in Minnesota when you are suspected of committing a misdemeanor offense? If the police do not have a warrant but have decided to proceed with the prosecution, you must be released on a citation. There are a few exceptions to the rule: (1) If the police reasonably believe [...]
"The Best Defense"Police are authorized under under Minnesota criminal law to break your door down and enter your home to arrest you without a warrant. Before police officers are permitted to enter your home to arrest you without a warrant, they must first have probable cause to believe you committed a felony offense. Secondly, police must provide you with proper notice of [...]