Deborah England is a litigator with over 20 years of employment law experience. She has published numerous articles and essays on employment and civil rights law, and she frequently speaks on these topics before legal and HR professional organizations.
England makes her home in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of The Essential Guide to Handling Workplace Harassment & Discrimination and the coauthor of The Essential Guide to Family & Medical Leave.
Articles by Deborah C. England
What Is Date Rape? Laws and Penalties
Some people assume date rape is less serious than stranger rape—but legally, it isn't. Learn how states define consent, what penalties a conviction can bring, what rape shield laws are, and when a victim can sue in civil court.
Tampering With Evidence
Whether it's deleting a text message or hiding a weapon, tampering with evidence carries harsh penalties. Understand the differences between federal and state laws, what prosecutors must prove to secure a conviction, and available defenses.
Spousal and Marital Privileges: Can Spouses Be Forced to Testify Against One Another?
Learn how spousal immunity and marital privileges work, whether your spouse can testify against you, who holds the privilege, and when exceptions allow testimony to come in.
Affirmative Defenses in Criminal Cases
Can you be acquitted even if the prosecution proves every element of the crime? Yes, with an affirmative defense. Learn how self-defense, duress, entrapment, insanity, and other defenses can protect you in a criminal case.
Criminal Liability Explained: Intent and Penalties
Facing criminal charges? From mens rea to strict liability crimes, understanding what makes someone criminally liable—and what doesn't—can help you make sense of the criminal system.
Can I Legally Record a Conversation Between Myself and Another Person?
Before recording any conversation, understand the legal landscape of federal and state wiretap laws, including consent and notice requirements, cross-state recordings, and penalties for illegal recordings.
Can a Defendant Bring Up an Accuser’s Sexual History in a Rape Case?
Rape shield laws are designed to stop unfair attacks on a victim’s sexual past, but there are narrow exceptions. Learn when sexual history might be discussed in court and why judges tightly control this evidence.
Upskirting Laws and Penalties
Taking photos or creating videos of a person's intimate areas without their consent can lead to criminal charges for invasion of privacy or video voyeurism. Learn how these laws interact with the practice of "upskirting."
Homicide: Murder and Manslaughter
The term "homicide" means the killing of another person—but it's not always a crime. Some homicides are justified, such as those done in self-defense or during war. Unlawful homicides include murder, manslaughter, and vehicular homicide.
What's the Difference Between Aiding, Abetting, and Being an Accessory to a Crime?
Learn more about accomplice liability, including what it means to be an aider and abettor or accessory to a crime.