Category: Understanding Your Rights

Arizona Criminal Law: A Review Of What Happened To SB 1070

On July 28, 2010 the federal district court issued an injunction to part of the highly publicized and talked about immigration bill in Arizona, known through-out the country as SB 1070.

Practically speaking, this means that part of the bill is not enforceable until the appellate courts determine its constitutionality. Judge Susan Bolton had to read…

Arizona Drug Law: Cheat First And Search Later

Drug sniffing dogs – you see them at the airport, the bus station, and on television. They serve an important purpose for law enforcement and the public. That is, they smell drugs when humans cannot. Moreover, the dogs do it in a manner that is not invasive to the people being search. However, there are some rules, like the…

Is Reading And Writing A Requirement To Serve On A Jury?

We should all be able to agree if you are charged with a crime, you should get a fair trial. An obvious prerequisite to a fair trial is that the jurors at least understand everything going on in the courtroom. That is, a juror should, at a minimum, be able to comprehend all evidence presented and understand the rules…

7 Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Seizure and Asset Forfeiture

Asset forfeiture occurs when the government claims someone has profited from criminal activity.  The government will then attempt to seize the proceeds of that criminal conduct.  However, law enforcement often seizes money and property well beyond what the law allows.  Common scenarios include a person who was not involved in a crime yet has their property taken; or when…

Can I Go To Work During My Jail Term?

There are many crimes in Arizona that result in a person serving a term of jail.  A term of jail can devastate a person’s career.  However, there are two programs that will allow a person to continue working while a person is serving a term of jail.  Furthermore, these programs DO NOT extend the time a person spends in…