Blog Posts in 2015

Advocates Hopeful About Drug-Sentence Reform

In the view of many advocates for criminal justice reform, the 2016 legislative session marks the best opportunity in a generation to overhaul Minnesota’s drug-sentencing laws. Maybe ever. Yes, they acknowledge, some factors auger against success. A similar push last session went nowhere, the partisan squabbling at the Legislature has hardly diminished since then, and this is an election year. ...

Why Not Represent Yourself in Court?

If you find yourself involved with the Minnesota court system, legal defense is the last thing you that should compromise. Unfortunately, thousands of people accused of crimes make that mistake every year. Referred to in the legal world as “pro se” representation, it is more commonly known as “representing yourself.” The popularity of this option has been on the rise and in some states, it may ...

Jail / Detox Release Information

If someone is arrested and taken to detox or jail, a sequence of procedures begins starting with the arresting officer demonstrating that there was probable cause to believe a crime occurred. A judge must then review the sworn testimony of the officer within forty-eight hours of the arrest to verify that the probable cause is sufficient enough to continue holding them in detention. Beyond the ...

What You Need to Know About DWI Test Refusal

When you are pulled over for suspicious of a DWI , you have an important decision you make, whether or not you consent to testing for a DWI case. It is usually best to take the time and this is why. With Minnesota DWI laws, refusing to submit to the test is a gross misdemeanor. If this is your first DWI and there are no other factors within the case, the underlying DWI is just considered a ...