| Plea Agreements Generally |
| When a defendant has been charged with a crime, it is his decision whether to enter a guilty or not guilty plea to the offense. Often times, a defendant enters a guilty plea based upon a plea agreement. Many prosecutors offer defendants plea agreements or bargains in order to ascertain a guilty plea from the defendant. More... |
| REQUESTS FOR JURY INSTRUCTIONS |
| Both the prosecution and a defendant have a right to request that certain instructions be submitted to a jury when a trial court charges the jury. A request for the instructions must be made in writing and must be presented to the trial court prior to the trial court's charge to the jury. The request may also be dictated to a court reporter in the presence of the trial court and counsel for both parties.More... |
| What to Do When You Have Been Arrested |
| After an accused has been arrested for committing a crime, what happens next and what should he do next? Once an officer has taken the accused into custody, he is no longer free to walk away, and the arrest is complete. An arrest is only proper and legal if the officer has probable cause to believe that the accused committed an offense or was about to commit an offense. An arrest is also proper when it is being conducted pursuant to an arrest warrant. However, if the warrant is not valid, numerous other issues will be raised. More... |
| Unlawful Flight Offenses |
| It is unlawful to flee to avoid custody or confinement, flight warrants, to avoid giving testimony, or to avoid service of process. The penalties associated therewith vary in duration and severity. More... |
| WAIVER OF APPEAL |
| A defendant is entitled to waive his or her right to appeal his or her conviction by a trial court. However, the waiver must be knowingly and intelligently made by the defendant. The waiver may only be made after the defendant's right to appeal has accrued. More... |
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