The difference between violent and non-violent crimes
When an individual is charged with a crime, it can fall into two categories in regards to violence: violent and non-violent crimes. The difference between the two is evident in definition, severity and sentences. Non-violent crimes are defined as a crime where no injury or force is used on another person. Non-violent crimes are often […]
What you should do following a car accident
Picture this: You and your spouse are on your way home from a wedding reception at a local country club. You have had a couple of drinks and should feel relaxed, but instead feel tense because visibility is poor as you drive through a heavy rainstorm on unfamiliar roads. An SUV comes toward you out […]
What is a grand jury?
A grand jury is not like a regular jury. They are assembled, via random selection from registered voters, to determine if there is probable cause to prosecute. In other words, the pool decides whether there is sufficient reason to believe the person accused could have committed the crime. Grand juries are reserved for severe federal […]
Friday night lights: Getting pulled over for DWI
It’s Friday night. The party died down in the wee hours of the morning and you set out for home in your car. It’s been a few hours since you’ve consumed any alcohol and you don’t feel intoxicated. As you cruise down the highway, thinking about the admirer you just met, red and blue lights […]
The 420 on your trip to Colorado
We get it. You went out to the marijuana capital of the world and had a bit of an adventure. Now that you are back in Minnesota, you may have some questions about what could happen in the event you are charged with a drug crime over certain souvenirs. What if I am holding paraphernalia? […]
After year-long drug crime suspension St. Olaf student returns to college
Anthony Bussa was the defense attorney for Riley Hedstrom, a St. Olaf student who faced two felony charges of fifth-degree possession, when he was caught by police with marijuana wax, LSD, ecstasy/MDMA (Molly) and additional paraphernalia in his dorm room. Read the full article here.
Earn a major in smarts by avoiding a minor in possession
They’ve graduated high school and are ready to live in their own place, miniscule as it may be. Your college-bound children may feel that they’re leaving the realm of adolescence behind and will soon gain entry into the adult world, one teeming with new freedoms and rights: unlimited curfew, endless social engagements and myriad caloric […]
A criminal history sticks around
The Internet remembers. Everything. In most cases, that’s good news as people can explore an almost limitless, and still growing, supply of information dating back decades. That supply, though, includes criminal records that employers, higher institutions and landlords easily can access, making it nearly impossible for people to conceal or detach from their pasts. How […]
Do you know about Minnesota’s Second Chance Law?
If you have a criminal record in Minnesota and it has gotten in the way of obtaining housing or securing a job, there is hope for you to start over again. Under the Second Chance Law, your criminal records may be completely expunged under certain circumstances. Expungement will not destroy your criminal record, but it […]