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You may be called as a witness in a court case if you see someone commit a crime or have valuable information relevant to the case. Witness testimony plays an essential role within our legal system. Your information can assist the court or jury in understanding a case...

Navigating court proceedings can be challenging and emotional for crime victims. But understanding your rights can help you regain a sense of control and help ensure your rights are being attended to. Every state has specific standards regarding victim rights....

Because a criminal record can negatively impact your life in so many ways, it's essential to minimize and, hopefully, remove charges as soon as possible. Fortunately, some aspects of your criminal record can be sealed or expunged by a court or a judge. But these...

A criminal (or crime) record contains a summary of all your contacts with law enforcement agencies. It contains information on all: Arrests Convictions Sentences Parole violations Dismissals Not guilty verdicts However, civil judgments, like creditor actions and...

A defendant who is found guilty may appeal the ruling to a higher court if they believe they were wrongfully convicted or received a sentence that was too harsh. In criminal cases, a defendant can appeal a guilty verdict, but the prosecutor can not appeal a not guilty...

An offender may be granted parole after serving part of their incarceration sentence if found eligible by a parole board. Typically, an offender must appear before the parole board at a hearing. If parole is granted, the person is released from jail or prison but must...

After being arrested, you may be taken to jail. In this situation, the court may set a specific amount of bail money that you can pay to leave jail. In exchange, the defendant promises to appear in court. The bond money is forfeited if you don’t show up for court. And...

A judge may sentence someone to probation as an alternative to jail time. While the person gets to live in the community instead of being incarcerated, they do have to follow specific conditions, which may include: Meeting regularly with a probation officer...