We hear more and more these days about money laundering. And while the term is used frequently, it is rarely defined. In fact, the phrase covers a wide range of potential crimes. In a general sense, money laundering, according to the United States Treasury Department,...
Blog
Acquitted Conduct Sentencing
Federal and state laws provide sentencing guidelines for those convicted of criminal offenses. The basic rules set minimum and maximum terms for most crimes. In Arizona, for example, A.R.S. 13-702 provides presumptive, minimum, maximum, mitigated and aggravated terms...
Federal Domestic Violence Laws
It is well known that all states have laws that deal with domestic violence issues. Whether the criminal law is phrased in terms of domestic violence, family violence, spousal abuse, or some other term, all 50 states have laws that make acts such as those a crime. But...
Arizona Death Penalty Under Review
Capital punishment is available as a possible punishment for certain crimes both on the federal level, and in 27 of the 50 states. Challenges to death penalty legislation have been going on for decades. In the early 1960’s, it was suggested by some that the death...
Theft vs. Burglary in Arizona – What’s the Difference?
We often hear of criminal charges involving alleged theft. In other cases, there are allegations of burglary. To most people, the difference between the two is less than clear. In the past, we have discussed in our blog how theft differs from robbery. We’ll now...
Proposed Changes in Arizona Criminal Laws
A number of new bills are now pending in the legislature that could affect issues ranging from panhandling, to interacting with police officers, and more. Here are some of the latest proposed changes in the criminal justice system: Filming/viewing police activity....
Felony Sentencing in Arizona
Aggravating and Mitigating Factors When a felony offender is sentenced, the court considers what are referred to as aggravating and mitigating factors. These factors could lessen or enhance the sentence imposed on a defendant, meaning the person would serve more – or...
Criminal Justice Today – Hot Topics
There are a number of topics related to the criminal justice system that have drawn the attention not only of criminal defense lawyers and prosecutors, but also the media and the public. Here are just a few of the wide-ranging issues that are currently being debated...
Perjury vs. False Swearing – What’s the Difference?
When we see films or TV programs involving courtroom scenes, there is often a reference to perjury. Usually, one of the lawyers is claiming that a witness committed perjury or is reminding the witness that lying under oath is a crime. The implication is that the...
What is Human Trafficking in Arizona?
Just what is “human trafficking” in Arizona? It is a term we hear all the time in the news. Some folks have certain notions of what it means, but according to the Department of Homeland Security, there are numerous myths in this area. Those myths include issues...
No Immunity for Cops in Bledsoe Wrongful Conviction Case
After spending more than 15 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, Floyd Bledsoe decided to sue police officers and others who he says were responsible for the now-admitted miscarriage of justice. Bledsoe, who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering his...
Supreme Court Upholds Juries of 8 in Arizona Criminal Trials
Without comment, the United States Supreme Court refused to void an Arizona law that allows criminal defendants to be convicted and sentenced by juries of 8 people. Arizona is one of only a handful of states that allow juries of less than 12 members to convict a...
Arizona Appeals Court Blocks Old Abortion Law
In the wake of the overturning of Roe vs. Wade by the United States Supreme Court, the issue in Arizona became the enforcement of a law that criminalizes virtually all abortions, making most abortions felonies. The law, which is more than one hundred years old and was...
President Biden Issues Pardon on Federal Marijuana Possession Offenses
Over the past several decades, the debate has continued over marijuana and the criminal laws that apply to it. As of today, around three quarters of the states have legalized marijuana in one form or another – either for medical or recreational use, or both. At the...
Criminal Speeding in Arizona
Most people assume that when you get a traffic ticket – for running a red light, for example, that the potential penalty is a fine, and maybe you’ll take a hit on your auto insurance. In fact, there are motor vehicle violations, in addition to DUI, of course, that are...