When charged with a criminal offense, you might be overwhelmed by figuring out what to do. You have several options, including entering a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest. A no-contest plea, also known as a nolo contendere plea, is one in which the defendant does not admit guilt but accepts punishment as…
Read MoreIf you were charged with a crime in Milwaukee, one of the first steps in the process would be an arraignment. This is the formal process during which the accused is formally advised of the charges against them and is given an opportunity to enter a plea. After arraignment, the next steps in your criminal…
Read MoreYour first appearance before the judge in a criminal defense case is called an arraignment. As a defendant, you have a constitutional right to hear the charges the state has filed against you, and the arraignment serves this purpose. Because this court appearance usually happens shortly after the arrest, you will probably feel overwhelmed. Knowing…
Read MoreHaving your driver’s license suspended indefinitely is more than an inconvenience. Not having a valid driver’s license can make consistently getting to work challenging, hurting your financial stability. You may miss doctor’s appointments or vital family milestones. Without a driver’s license, your world can be turned upside down while you look for time-consuming and costly…
Read MoreA prosecutor can drop or dismiss a criminal charge for many reasons. Sometimes they do it voluntarily, but often you need a Wisconsin criminal defense attorney to advocate to have your charges removed in this way. When your charge is dropped, it could reappear later if more evidence comes to light. If your charge is…
Read MoreNo. You can’t pursue legal action against a police officer simply for not reading your Miranda Rights to you during an arrest. A new Supreme Court ruling protects law enforcement from civil lawsuits filed by criminal defendants in this situation. However, this ruling does not prevent you from using an officer’s failure to read your…
Read MoreBeing arrested for any drug-related offense is a shock. Your life can instantly come grinding to a halt, and you may be worried about what will happen next. This is understandable because your rights, your reputation, and your freedom are all on the line. Each year, about a quarter of all arrests in America are…
Read MoreThis past May, a 12-year-old in Kenosha was charged with disorderly conduct after allegedly being involved in a school fight at her middle school. According to a CNN account, the girl was captured on video fighting another girl. An off-duty police officer attempted to break up the altercation. The story gets more complicated, as the…
Read MoreWhile the focus of prison time is often about punishment for wrongdoing, it can be easy to forget that incarceration is intended to be the beginning of an individual’s rehabilitation process. When a person’s prison term ends, they get a fresh start so that they can begin re-integrating into their communities. Much of the time,…
Read MoreThere are generally two different types of charges that a person can face. These charges are either state charges or federal charges. Distinguishing between the two can be challenging. Each state has the power to dictate its own code of laws prohibiting criminal behavior. Since each state has jurisdiction over its legal code, the penalties…
Read MoreWritten by Michael Hart & Craig Powell
Last Updated : March 23, 2026