Recent Blog Posts
Will You Get a Speedy Trial in Nevada?
The right to a speedy trial: it’s promised by the Sixth Amendment . All the same, there are countless people stuck behind bars awaiting trial in this country. Why are over 30,000 people– two-thirds of whom simply cannot afford bail— stuck in Nevada county jails on any given day of the year, even though… Read More »
Police Use of Spit Hoods/Masks
Spit hoods: they are used by police departments across the country, including here in Nevada, to protect officers from being spit on or bitten. It makes sense that police wish to evade saliva projectiles—but there are concerns about the safety of these hoods. What do Studies Say? There is a body of research indicating… Read More »
Charged With Hazing?
School hazing: it occurs in high schools and colleges across the country, despite widespread publicity outlining the dangers associated with it and laws on the books penalizing those who perpetuate it. Here in Nevada, we’ve seen our fair share of hazing resulting in horrendous outcomes: A high school baseball player in Galena who’d been… Read More »
Understanding Bond and Bail
When awaiting trial, there are several options that can keep you out of jail. In some cases you may be able to post bail to get out of jail; if you’re lucky, you can avoid jail altogether with a bond payment. Without question, those who are arrested and manage to take advantage of bail… Read More »
Are You at Risk of Having a Judge Issue a Gag Order?
If you’ve been following the national news at all, you may be familiar with the attention Donald Trump has been drawing when it comes to gag orders related to various trials. Such orders are often headline-grabbing in high profile trials—but what about average people who find themselves facing a criminal trial? Are gag orders… Read More »
Health Care Fraud
Health care fraud is serious business with serious consequences. As the most expensive white-collar crime in the country—racking up nearly $100 billion in lost funds involving private insurers and another $100 billion in Medicaid and Medicare–the state of Nevada does not look kindly on this type of fraud. Both state and federal prosecutors are… Read More »
Surprise! Fingerprints aren’t Unique After All
The results are in, and plenty of scientists and forensic experts are taken aback: the universally accepted conclusion that we all have a unique set of fingerprints has been debunked—or has it? The Old Science For literally hundreds of years forensic analysts have focused on the endpoints and branching in the ridges of fingerprints—called… Read More »
Sassing Off in Court
When you’re in front of a judge in a courtroom, you may have 101 things running through your head that you’d just love to say. But regardless of the situation, it’s advisable not to spout off. That’s in spite of what you may hear about Donald Trump’s sass in court. Mr. Trump’s Behavior In… Read More »
Civil Forfeiture is a Problem
Civil forfeiture is something that occurs with regularity across the country, but because so many jurisdictions don’t provide accurate records of their activity, it’s impossible to state the amount of money/property we’re talking about with any specificity. But let’s be clear: governments pocket billions of dollars this way. What Exactly is Civil Forfeiture? When… Read More »
Is a Change of Venue Worth Considering?
When facing criminal charges, a change of venue may be appropriate in some circumstances. What are those situations, what are the benefits of venue change? Is it something worth considering in your criminal case? When is a Change of Venue Request Appropriate? There are limited reasons for which a change of venue may be… Read More »
