Criminal Law
| CLEMENCY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS |
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| In some states, legislatures have recently enacted laws that grant the possibility of clemency by the states' governors for domestic violence victims who have been convicted of certain offenses, such as murder and manslaughter. In those states, the governors are entitled to request a clemency investigation by the states' parole boards into cases where defendants have pleaded guilty or have been convicted of those offenses when the offenses were directly related to the defendants' being victimized by domestic violence.
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| INJURY TO A CHILD, AN ELDERLY PERSON, OR A DISABLED INDIVIDUAL |
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| A person commits the offense of injury to a child, an elderly person, or a disabled individual when the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes serious bodily injury or impairment to the child, the elderly person, or the disabled individual. More... |
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| CONSPIRACY |
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| A person commits the offense of conspiracy if he or she, with the intent to commit an underlying felony, agrees with one or more persons to engage in conduct that would constitute the underlying felony and performs an overt act in furtherance of the agreement. The person must know that the underlying felony will be committed. The person must also agree in advance to aid the commission of the underlying felony. The overt act does not need to be a criminal act in itself. More... |
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| The Exclusionary Rule |
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| When a defendant's fourth, fifth or sixth amendment rights have been violated, the exclusionary rule may apply. The exclusionary rule prevents evidence that was illegally obtained from admission at trial. The exclusionary rule was created by case law in 1914 and was made applicable to the states through case law in 1961.The exclusionary rule is a judicial mandate and does not guarantee the defendant's right to constitutional safeguards.
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| ABUSE OF PUBLIC OFFICE & MISUSE OF OFFICIAL INFORMATION |
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| A public servant commits the offense of abuse of public office when he or she intentionally or knowingly and with the intent to obtain a personal benefit violates a law regarding his or her office or misuses government property, services, personnel, or anything of value, which has come into his or her possession by virtue of his or her office or employment. The word "misuse" means to deal with property contrary to any agreement, any contract, or any law. More... |
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