Presidential pardons have been a part of the United States justice system almost since the beginning, starting in 1789. These powers have been used many times. For instance, FDR pardoned nearly 3,000 people while he was in office – though he did serve for four terms,...
A person who’s been convicted of a federal crime might be looking at considerable time behind bars. Some might maintain that they shouldn’t have to serve their entire sentence. Others may admit that they committed the crime, but might be truly sorry for the situation....
When bringing their case to the courts, the prosecution will rely upon numerous forms of evidence. Testimony from witnesses is among the most compelling forms of evidence they have at hand. A convincing account from witnesses at the scene can stack the odds against...
The criminal justice system says that people can only be convicted of a crime if the evidence shows they did it “beyond a reasonable doubt.” While this might seem like it’s fairly foolproof, this isn’t necessarily the case. A person who’s convicted of a crime might...
The decision to appeal a criminal conviction is one that must be taken seriously. There are very specific reasons why a person might need to file an appeal. Regardless of the reason for the appeal, the person must ensure that they’re handling the situation correctly...
When you face criminal charges in New Mexico, your defense attorney may be the only thing standing between you and incarceration. The lawyer who handles your defense has a major influence on the outcome of your trial and your ability to protect yourself. Most...
Clemency is one way that those convicted of murder may avoid the death penalty in some states. This recently became an issue in Oklahoma when the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus raised concerns and requested the governor to grant a man convicted of murder clemency. ...
If you are in trouble with the government, there may be some evidence against you. However, if you believe that the evidence is not strong enough, that a witness won’t appear in court or that there are other issues that should result in the case being dismissed, then...
In certain kinds of criminal cases, especially in criminal proceedings related to drug crimes, the police and federal law enforcement agents sometimes have to take creative steps to gather enough evidence for a conviction. Especially when federal agencies look into...
Sadly, it is not uncommon for people to face prison sentences for crimes they did not commit. There are numerous factors that may contribute to a wrongful conviction -- including flawed investigations, mistaken identity and false confessions. False confessions present...