In almost all legal settings there is something called burden of proof. What exactly does burden of proof mean? Cases have regularly defined burden of proof as being the necessity or duty of affirmatively proving a fact or facts in dispute on an issue raised between the parties in a cause. In the law how you meet that burden of proof is the introduction of evidence to either a judge or a jury that then…
Most people know that when you are required to register as a sex offender that there are certain life restrictions that come along with it. The civil consequences can be overwhelming and cumbersome. What a lot of people don’t realize is that there are, at times and given the type of sex crime conviction they have, limitations on where they can live. Unfortunately, many people only discover this after they are convicted because the attorney…
Sentencing Enhancements are, unfortunately, something that repeat offenders must sometimes contend with. There are two primary sentencing enhancements in Indiana that individuals should be familiar with. Habitual Offender Enhancement The first enhancement that will be discussed is the general Habitual Offender Enhancement. The statute defining the Habitual Offender Enhancement is IC 35-50-2-8. If the defendant is convicted of any felony, and has multiple prior felony convictions, the defendant may be eligible for this enhancement. The…
In 2019, there were approximately 50,000 people who were injured in auto accidents in the State of Indiana alone. The likelihood of being in an accident after driving for a lifetime is very high. If you are injured in an auto accident, it is imperative that you understand the deadlines for filing and pursuing a legal claim. According to Indiana Code § 34-11-2-4, a claimant has two years from the date of their accident…
Most people realize that juveniles are treated differently than adults in criminal cases. Even the Supreme Court has gone out of its way to issue numerous rulings (see Brown v. State, 10 N.E.3d 1 (Ind. 2014) and Fuller vs. State, 9 N.E.3d 653 (Ind. 2014)) specifically mentioning that juveniles should be treated differently because they have not fully matured, often don’t fully recognize the wrongfulness of their acts, and are able to be rehabilitated with…
If police officers arrive at your home with a search warrant, it will obviously be a very stressful, difficult, and possibly chaotic time. As such, it is important to understand the process by which police obtain a warrant, and what they may search for once they enter your home with a valid warrant. A search warrant is an order signed by a judge giving police the legal authority to search for evidence of a crime…
Purchasing and possessing a firearm in Indiana is a legal process that requires one to know the licensure process and the appeals process should one’s permit application be denied. Indiana is a “shall issue” state (Ind. Code 35-47-2-3), which means that the Indiana State Police shall issue a concealed carry permit to one who meets the following criteria: The person has a proper reason for carrying a handgun; See Code 35-47-1-8 and Schubert v. DeBard,…
As most everyone knows, if you are charged with a felony in Indiana, you are guaranteed a jury trial. In fact, it is such a fundamental right, it is established as a matter of course when your felony case is charged at your initial hearing — you will be given a date for your jury at that hearing, whether you want one or not. It is assumed the case will be going to jury trial…
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Brad Banks who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a criminal defense attorney.