The Role of Evidence in Criminal Arrest

In order to make an arrest, police are held to a standard of proof known as probable cause, the name of which describes the standard. The level of certainty is not “absolute cause,” meaning that incontrovertible proof is not needed, but at the same time, it involves a level of certainty much greater than a mere… Read More

The Basics of Reporting a Crime

Just as preventive measures can be enacted to help protect against the commission of crimes, reactive measures taken by civic-minded persons can increase the chances of recovering property or achieving justice after the fact. While most people never consider how to be a good witness for police before the fact, a small amount of education… Read More

The Letter of the Law vs. the Spirit of the Law

Criminal statutes spell out, usually in clear words and sentences, proscribed behavior. In other words, they expressly define what people must not do. Such actual text is known as the letter of the law. The reason for the existence of the vast majority of statutes is readily comprehensible. For example, in common law, petit theft… Read More

Hearsay As Evidence In Court

The Fifth Amendment protects citizens from self-incrimination and establishes that one has no obligation to provide statements either to police or in court regarding one’s own criminal activity. However, it does not apply to statements made otherwise, including those in private conversations or monologue, by the subject of a criminal investigation and directed toward friends,… Read More

How To Prevent Property Crimes and Break Ins

Experienced police officers unanimously agree that a large percentage of crime victims opened the metaphorical door for the criminal, and unwittingly created the opportunity, themselves. While no procedures can guarantee complete safety and freedom from crime, the practicing of some basic measures of vigilance can prevent many common property crimes. While many of these concepts… Read More

All I Did Was Talk About a Crime; How Can I Be Guilty of a Real Crime?

While many crimes are committed by a single offender, others are committed by two or more. When people team up to transgress, associated communication takes place and division of labor is established. In criminal organizations, orders are issued and received through whispers and code. In the case of an angry mob, “let’s get him!” might… Read More

The Right to Use Deadly Force in Washington

In each of the 50 United States, a person has the right to defend oneself from unlawful attack. Washington RCW 9A.16.010 (3) establishes that force against another is not unlawful “[w]henever used by a party about to be injured, or by another lawfully aiding him or her, in preventing or attempting to prevent an offense against… Read More

How Can I Be Charged With Possession of Drugs That Are Not Mine?

If a passenger car is occupied by more than one person, ownership of illegal contraband contained within the vehicle might be assigned to any of the occupants. Even though some of the persons in the car might not have owned the drugs or even known of the presence of the drugs, the law presumes ownership… Read More

What To Do If You Are Involved In A Deadly Encounter

The right to defend oneself from unlawful attack is guaranteed in each of the 50 United States. However, circumstances justifying the use of force against another person can be difficult to prove after the fact, especially when such force rises to the level of deadly force. The killing of a person is a homicide, and… Read More