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Aggravated Battery Laws and Penalties
The crime of battery is the intentional touching of another in an angry manner or the intentional use of force or violence against another. Grabbing someone’s arm, pushing or punching a person or striking a victim with an object are all crimes of battery.
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Assault with a deadly weapon is a felony offense regardless of the actual injuries caused to the victim.
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Battery Against a Police Officer
Battery against a police officer involves causing injury to a law enforcement officer (or, in some states, attempting to or threatening to cause injury) . It is treated as a very serious crime. Many states have specific and harsh penalties that apply to battery against a police officer.
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Burglary: Charges, Penalties, and Sentencing
When most people think of burglary, they think of a thief in a black outfit sneaking into someone's home or a museum in the middle of the night. While such activity definitely counts as burglary, the legal definition applies to a much broader range of activities.
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Even though the Constitution guarantees the right of free speech, that right is not an absolute one. The law has long recognized specific limitations when it comes to speech, such as prohibitions against slander and libel.
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Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana
The often tragic consequences and harsh legal penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are well publicized. What many people don’t realize is that it is also illegal and punishable in all 50 states to drive under the influence of marijuana.
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Domestic Violence Laws and Penalties
Domestic violence is a violent act committed against a person in a domestic relationship whom the law protects from assault, such as a spouse, a relative, or a dating or sexual partner. Some states also classify threats to commit violent acts against protected persons as domestic violence.
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Theft and thievery have been around for as long as mankind has believed in the idea of individual property and property rights. Today, states differentiate the various kinds of theft into different categories.
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Violation Of A Restraining Order
There are several kinds of restraining orders. Violating some will lead to civil liability, while violating others can result in criminal conviction.
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Amphetamine Possession Charge: Penalties, Evidence and Defense
Here's an overview on the laws, consequences, and possible defenses for possessing amphetamines.
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Can a landlord prohibit e-cigarettes in a multi-tenant building?
As with most landlord/tenant matters, state law and local ordinances will govern whether or not a landlord can impose rules on e-cigarettes.
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Can I go to jail for selling fake drugs?
Question: I sold a baggie of aspirins that I said was OxyContin to a guy at a concert. After the show, I heard that there were undercover officers in the crowd. Could I be busted for selling fake drugs?
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A potent stimulant known as cocaine is derived from the leaves of the South American coca plant. Under federal law and the law of all fifty states, possession of any amount of cocaine is a crime. And, crack cocaine (a form of cocaine that is processed even further than powder cocaine to achieve a cheaper version) carries heavier penalties under federal and some state laws.
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Dismissing (or "Sealing") a Federal Record for Drug Possession
Federal judges have the inherent power to expunge any record, but it’s rare that a judge will exercise that power.
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Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana
The often tragic consequences and harsh legal penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are well publicized. What many people don’t realize is that it is also illegal and punishable in all 50 states to drive under the influence of marijuana.
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If dispensaries are illegal in my city, may I still use medical marijuana?
While your city may outlaw the dispensaries themselves, your medical marijuana use is still legal under state law (as long as you abide by the requirements for legal medical marijuana use).
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Sale of a Controlled Substance: Drug Sale Laws
Drug dealing is a crime not only in every state, but also one punished at the federal level.
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Where can I get medical marijuana if there are no dispensaries in my California city?
If your city has outlawed medical marijuana dispensaries, but you are otherwise allowed to own and use medical marijuana under California state law, you have two options.
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Unpaid Speeding and Parking Tickets
Everyone hates tickets. But if you get ticketed for a driving or parking violation, you need to make sure that you take care of it. Failing to pay a ticket can result in unpleasant consequences, such as being arrested, spending time in jail, paying expensive fines, and a getting slapped with a suspended
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If you injure another person while operating a motor vehicle, in addition to being liable in civil court for the injury and damage you cause, you can be charged with a crime. In some states, the crime is known as vehicular assault. The grounds for a criminal charge of this type vary from state to state, but most commonly arise out of causing injury to another while:
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The crime of reckless driving occurs whenever someone operates a vehicle in such a way that it poses a risk to others. Unlike some other traffic laws, reckless driving is highly dependent on the circumstances of each individual case.
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In some states charges of exhibition of speed are classified under the name of "racing on the freeway" or "racing on the highway".
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Ever since the automobile first made its way onto American roadways, cities and states have limited how fast cars could legally travel. Though speed limits are an ever present limitation whenever you drive, many people are not aware that you can also violate traffic laws by engaging in exhibitions of speed.
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Driving Without a License: Presenting Proof of a Valid License
A suspended license is one that has been taken away temporarily. In some situations, the suspension period automatically expires and the license becomes valid again; in other situations, drivers must apply to the issuing agency to reinstate their licenses.
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With the rise in the use of computers and cell phones, sexting has become a phenomenon among both adults and teens. Sexting laws generally seek to punish adults more harshly than minors.
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What does it mean to "distribute" child pornography?
Distributing pornography doesn't require elaborate plans. Sending a photo through the Internet will suffice.
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What is the Crime of "Child Enticement?"
Child enticement is a crime that involves an adult persuading, or attempting to persuade, a child to accompany him or her for the purposes of sexual activity. The type of situations that can lead to child enticement charges differs from state to state.
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Statutory Rape Laws and Charges
Someone who has sex with a person under a certain age, even when the two people are close in age, and even when both people are under a certain age, can be charged with a crime in some states, even when the sex is consensual.
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An overview of DUI (driving under the influence) offense classifications and possible consequences.
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Underage DUI/DWI Laws & Penalties
Learn the basics of underage DUI/DWI laws and penalties including information in your state.
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Minor in Possession of Alcohol
Minor in possession laws (sometimes called underage drinking laws) target sales of alcohol to minors and public possession of alcohol by minors.
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Refusing to Perform a Breathalyzer or Provide a Blood Sample
Refusing to take a test may deprive the prosecution of damning evidence, but it will also usually result in a license suspension. In some situations, a refusal post-arrest can be overcome, and a non-consensual blood test may be allowed.