Social Security, Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income Social Security benefits are paid to eligible individuals that have attained the minimum retirement age, 62 or older. To be eligible for Social Security, an individual must have the requisite number of credits. Social Security credits are calculated based on an individual’s…
What does it mean to provide cooperation, snitch or be an informant for the police? Cooperation, using the little fish to get the big fish, is a major law enforcement tactic utilized everywhere and every day in the United States to gain information that would otherwise be next to impossible…
Every element of a crime must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt Every crime is made up of parts that are called elements. When a person is charged with a crime, the prosecutor is saying that there is sufficient evidence to establish each and every element of the crime…
As an active criminal defense attorney in Macomb County, our firm is frequently asked whether a criminal record can be totally erased, disappear or vanish. Unfortunately, the answer is no. The Michigan Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) The moment an arrest occurs, or a warrant is issued by a court,…
This blog is part of a series of blogs which explores some frequently asked criminal law questions. I cannot believe how many times I have been asked this question: Do court appointed lawyers work for the police and prosecutor? Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT. Pursuant to the 6th Amendment to the United…
In the United States, there are crimes which may be prosecuted at the State level based upon violations of State laws. A Federal crime is one which involves a violation of a Federal law. Many criminal offenses may fall under the jurisdiction of both the State and Federal laws and…
All drug crimes require the element of possession. This publication will examine the applicable Michigan laws which pertain to the issue of “possession” as an element of a crime. Many Michigan criminal laws, especially drug crimes and stolen property laws, contain an element or requirement of “possession”. Possession of child…