Criminal Defense

Domestic violence charges are often the result of a volatile home dynamic. Teenagers becoming aggressive toward their parents or intimate partners getting into fights can worry others. Uninvolved people may call law enforcement to ensure that everyone is safe. One of...

Marijuana legalization in Michigan was a slow process. The state started by allowing medical patients to register and legally use marijuana. Eventually, voters passed a ballot initiative legalizing recreational marijuana for adult users.  Now that people can purchase...

Have you been charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI, aka DUI) resulting in death? If so, you should know that this is one of the most serious criminal charges a person can face in Michigan.  It applies when someone drives under the influence of alcohol or...

Few events are as frightening as being charged with a crime of violence like assault and battery. Since these two terms are often used interchangeably, you may think they are considered the same offense. That may be so in some states, but Michigan defines battery as a...

The police may ask a driver to perform a sobriety test during a traffic stop. A sobriety test can determine whether a driver is drunk while operating their vehicle. If the driver is drunk, they could be arrested and charged with drunk driving. Alcohol affects everyone...

We recently discussed illegal searches by the police, which often focus on officers searching your home or your car. In many cases, the police need a search warrant to enter your house if they do not have your consent. Performing the search without consent or a...

You are out drinking with a friend when the night begins to wrap up. You realize it is time to drive home, but you can tell that you are still a bit intoxicated. You are not sure if you should drive, both because you do not know if you can do so safely and because you...

The rules about drunk driving are slightly different in every state. Even the name for the crime changes when crossing state lines. Many laws refer to drunk driving as driving under the influence (DUI) offenses. Some states call drunk driving offenses driving while...

Plea deals are common in the criminal justice system. These are essentially agreements between defendants and prosecutors that help move cases along. In exchange for pleading guilty (often to a lesser charge), the defendant receives some kind of benefit, such as...

People in the United States generally have protection from unreasonable searches and seizures of their private property. Different rules apply to different types of searches, but there are certain baseline standards that generally apply. Law enforcement professionals...