The Basics of Vacating or Expunging Misdemeanor Cases in Washington The Basics of Vacating or Expunging Misdemeanor Cases in Washington Washington law defines a misdemeanor as “An offense punishable by no more than 90 days in jail and $1,000.” A “gross misdemeanor” is punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a maximum fine of $5,000. For both types of misdemeanors, both a jail… Read More
When Good People Get Caught Up in Legal Problems When Good People Get Caught Up in Legal Problems It is not as difficult as one might imagine, to get involved in legal or even criminal matters. The Prison Policy Initiative (PPI), a non-profit group, estimated that at the end of 2016, over 2.2 million Americans were behind bars, let alone being charged or… Read More
The Rights of Protesters in Seattle Your voice is so important to the future of our country that our forefathers wrote an amendment guaranteeing your rights to freedom of speech and freedom to peaceably assemble. The Second Amendment does not guarantee the rights of protesters do what they want where they please, though. This means it is up to you, the… Read More
Fluctuation of Crime during the COVID-19 Pandemic Crime rates have fluctuated wildly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview with Seattle Times, the Seattle Police Department said that crime reports declined 15 percent from late February to early March compared with last year. Sgt. Sean Whitcomb, SPD spokesperson said, “This is not surprising, considering the reduction of people out and about.” Many… Read More
Grab and Run Theft (Porch Piracy) in Seattle Seattle has a high rate of “grab and run” thefts, in which so-called porch pirates steal packages from doorsteps. In fact, The Seattle Times named the Emerald City as the fifth-worst metropolitan area for packages stolen from porches in 2019. While this type of theft is more common during the holidays, it can happen at… Read More
Seattle Courts Postponed: Defendants Could Wait a Long Time Until Trial Anyone in Seattle facing criminal charges but is currently an out-of-custody defendant likely will not have a hearing anytime soon. According to a recent article in The Seattle Times, the state Supreme Court issued an emergency order for criminal hearings. Chief Justice Debra Stephens issued the emergency order, which postpones hearings for out-of-custody defendants in… Read More
Washington State Governor Signs a Bill to Erase Marijuana Misdemeanors Washington State legalized recreational marijuana in 2012, and criminal penalties finally are catching up. According to a recent article in The Seattle Times, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill pertaining to marijuana convictions. Once the new law takes effect, most people with misdemeanor marijuana convictions will be able to have those convictions erased. To… Read More