When police may legally use deadly force
Police officers are members of the executive branch of government. They help enforce the laws. Because it is their duty to enforce the law, we give police officers special privileges that most private citizens don’t have: The power to detain and arrest people, to charge people with crimes, and, at times, use deadly force. Whether […]
Can they do that? Police officers asking questions without advising you of your Miranda warning.
No crime drama show is complete without a detective aggressively handcuffing a suspect and reciting what most people refer to as a Miranda warning or Miranda rights: Can the police ask you questions without advising you of your Miranda rights? Generally, yes, but it depends on the circumstances. A law enforcement officer must provide a […]
Don’t make a federal case out of it: Understanding federal versus state criminal prosecutions.
The saying “don’t make a federal case out of it” usually means “don’t make a big deal about it.” The saying holds true, because federal cases are a big deal. The criminal justice system in the United States can be divided into two different systems: State and Federal. Every state has their own judicial system: […]