One of the most important things to know in criminal law is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor. It is important to know the difference for many reasons, but especially because of the severity of the punishment associated with one versus the other. Not...
Criminal Defense
Search and seizure: The basics
When it comes to criminal justice, understanding the basics of search and seizure law is essential. Search and seizure laws safeguard personal privacy, while still enabling law enforcement to gather evidence. These rules, based on the Fourth Amendment of the U.S....
Everyday computer crimes you may not realize are illegal
Many people have a certain idea in mind when they think about computer hacking. They likely think of how it looks in the movies, with someone running sophisticated software to break through passwords and firewalls. They know that this is illegal because that person is...
What happens to my stuff when I go to jail?
If you are either at risk of being convicted of criminal wrongdoing or have already been sentenced to a term of incarceration, you may be wondering how best to protect your interests – and your loved ones – if/when you spend time in jail. What will happen to...
Protecting a professional license after being charged with a crime
Massachusetts requires professional licensing for a number of different careers. Those working in certain medical professions, real estate jobs, commercial transportation and even architecture have to fulfill minimum educational requirements, undergo a background...
What is the First Step Act?
The First Step Act, passed in December 2018, stands as a landmark legislation in the U.S. criminal justice system, as it aims to rectify many longstanding issues associated with excessive sentencing and prison overcrowding. This bipartisan act represents a significant...
The path to unanimous jury verdicts for criminal suspects
The validity of unanimous jury verdicts entered the public sphere when the United States Supreme Court issued Ramos vs. Louisiana. The 2020 ruling struck down the retroactive status, representing a landmark decision mandating unanimous jury verdicts to convict...
What happens if you write a bad check in Massachusetts?
Bad or bounced checks often don't occur on purpose. Some people write checks that they think will be good that later bounce. You may have forgotten about an automatic draft scheduled for your quarterly insurance payment or that your paycheck would be short this week...
5 ways to fight an embezzlement charge
The stress from personal and financial problems mounted, and the circumstances behind these problems affected your judgment. In an attempt to end this financial downward spiral, you got the money you needed, but it was not from the right place. You took the money from...
4 seemingly harmless statements to avoid making to police
Speaking to the police is stressful for anyone, regardless of whether you think you did anything wrong. In these interactions, they often have the upper hand - they know a lot of tricks and strategies you may not, and they can be incredibly intimidating. Under these...