In television and movies, the suspect almost always knows the police are investigating them and acts accordingly. But in real life, things are rarely so obvious. You do not legally have to be informed of an investigation, and police often prefer not to notify someone that they are a suspect until they formally charge them […]
Will Using a Private Browser Online Keep You Out of Legal Trouble?
While most people are online every day, few understand the technology necessary to enable our phones and computers to access the internet. To be fair, you don’t normally need to know how a piece of technology works to reap its benefits. However, if you search with a private browser because you’re hoping to keep your […]
Can You be Charged with Murder if There is No Body?
Many people have heard that habeas corpus translates to “bring forth the body” or something similar. As a result, they may mistakenly believe that the US Constitution requires a dead body to be discovered for the government to prosecute a murder charge. But habeas corpus, while an important legal doctrine, has nothing to do with dead […]
Thinking About Cooperating With the Police?
Being investigated for a crime is intimidating. Many people believe that the best way to clear their name is to cooperate with the police in every step of the investigation and answer any questions detectives may ask. Sometimes people worry they will look guilty if they invoke their right to silence, insist on contacting a […]
California Polygraph Law on Lie Detector Test Admissibility
Everyone has heard of polygraphs (often called “lie detectors” by the public) being used by police or prosecutors, but are these tests even admissible in court in California? As it turns out, California law about evidence admissibility makes it very unlikely that a lie detector test’s results will be admitted in court. However, police still […]
Do the Police Actually Hire Consultants Like They Do on TV?
Shows like Lucifer, Psych, Castle and Monk feature contractors hired by the police to help solve crimes, but is what you see on screen realistic? As it turns out, while police consultants are real, criminal attorneys would get most of the evidence the TV consultants uncover thrown out of court. Here’s a breakdown of how […]
Surprising Things Police Can Do Without A Warrant
The Constitution may protect you from unreasonable search and seizure, but many people have no idea how complex search warrant laws are. For example, the police cannot search your cell phone without a warrant, but they can search your car without a warrant if they have “reasonable suspicion.” In fact, they can do many things […]
Little Known Forensic Specialties You Might Not Have Heard Of
These days, thanks to shows like CSI, Dexter, and NCIS, everyone is familiar with forensic science, but while the existence of blood splatter and DNA analysis is common knowledge, there are plenty of other fields of forensic study that most people are totally unaware of. These experts might not be called in to handle a […]
