Newsletters

RIGHTS OF CRIME VICTIMS

Being a victim of a crime is a frightening experience. Until fairly recently, crime victims had no rights and did not have access to any federal, state, or local services to help them through the experience. In most states, there are now many services and resources that are available to crime victims.

AMENDING INDICTMENTS & INFORMATIONS

An amendment is a change to an indictment or an information, which has the effect of correcting any defects in the indictment or the information. The amendment changes the wording of the indictment or the information so that it will not be subject to a defendant's motion to dismiss or motion to quash.

ISSUING A BAD OR A WORTHLESS CHECK

A person commits the offense of issuing a bad or a worthless check when he or she writes, issues, or passes a check or similar document for the payment of money when he or she knows that he or she does not have sufficient funds in a banking institution to pay the check.

Federal Criminal Offenses charged in conjunction with Violations of Environmental Statutes

An individual or corporation may be charged with violating environmental statutes along with violating other federal statutes.

Closing Arguments During a Criminal Trial

The defendant is entitled to present a closing argument in a criminal trial. The defendant's right to give a closing argument has been deemed by the United States Supreme Court as a basic element of the adversary factfinding process.