Lauren Baldwin has been licensed as an attorney in New Mexico for twenty years. She has extensive experience as a litigator and appellate practitioner in criminal and family law (including adoptions). She holds a Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Articles By Lauren Baldwin
Preliminary Criminal Hearing: Process and Procedures
Learn the purpose behind preliminary hearings and how this mini-trial or preview offers several advantages to defendants.
Statutory Rape Laws and Charges
Statutory rape offenses are strict liability offenses that can result in a felony conviction and prison time, even if a defendant genuinely didn't know the partner was younger than the age of consent. Learn how statutory rape laws work.
Using a Gun for Self-Defense: Laws and Consequences
Laws in every state spell out when and whether you can use a gun to defend yourself or someone else.
Getting a Criminal Charge Dismissed
Many cases are dismissed before a plea or trial. Learn about the common reasons why.
State and Local Laws Regulating 3D-Printed Guns
Firearms sellers must be licensed, and weapons sold must have a serial number. How, if at all, do these rules apply to 3D-printed guns that are not sold by the maker?
What Is the Bench Trial Process?
A bench trial is tried to a judge only—there's no jury. Learn how bench trials work in criminal cases and why a defendant might choose to go that route over a jury trial.
What Is the Suspended Imposition of a Sentence?
If you are convicted at trial or plead guilty to a crime for which the judge can sentence you to jail or prison, the judge can suspend all or part of the sentence and place you on probation (supervised or unsupervised). A suspended sentence can be an excellent alternative to serving a lengthy jail or prison sentence.
Expunging or Sealing an Adult Criminal Record
Even years after a criminal conviction, a criminal record can interfere with your ability to obtain employment, housing, and professional licenses. Is it possible to clear a criminal record after an arrest or conviction?
Who Decides to Try a Juvenile as an Adult?
In most states, when children are accused of criminal acts, the case most often is addressed in a juvenile court and not in the adult criminal court system. All states, however, have provisions that allow or require the courts to treat juveniles in certain cases as adults.
Revenge Porn in Illinois
Illinois has criminalized revenge porn – posting or distributing intimate photographs, images, or videos of another person on the internet without the person’s consent and in order to harass or upset that person.