An Anatomy of a Criminal Trial
Lots of things can happen during a criminal trial. Most trials follow a uniform set of procedures.

Arrests and Interrogations FAQ
An arrest occurs when a police officer armed with an arrest warrant utters the words "you're under arrest," or when a police officer significantly restrains your freedom of motion. The restraint must be more than a mere detention on the street. Although in most situations the police will take you to the police station for booking (photographs and fingerprinting), it is also possible for an officer to arrest and book you at the crime scene, and then release you when you give a written promise to appear in court at a later time. After the police arrest you, they will often question you in order to find out more about the crime, your role in it and whether there may be other suspects. There are several Constitutional protections that you may invoke during police interrogations.

Bail FAQ
What it means to post bail, how to pay for it, and what to do if you can't.

Bail: Getting Out of Jail After an Arrest
What you need to know about bail -- what it is, how it's set and how to pay it.

Common Defenses to Criminal Charges
Here are a handful of ways in which a defendant might get off the hook.

Criminal Law and Procedure: FAQ
The basics of a criminal prosecution, including presumption of innocence, trial by jury, felonies, misdemeanors, conviction and innocence.

Derivative Liability: When People Who Help Other People Commit a Crime Can Be Charged
Most of us have heard the terms "accomplice," "accessory," and "aider and abettor" -- if only on TV. This article explains what these terms mean, and how anyone who intentionally participates in a crime may be held responsible for it.

Domestic Violence: Civil Liability FAQ
Information to help you take legal action against your abuser.

Domestic Violence: Taking Action FAQ
Suggestions to help you stop domestic violence.

How a Defendant's Mental State Affects His or Her Responsibility for a Crime
What a defendant intended to do often affects how severely he or she will be punished -- but not always.

How People Get Charged With Crimes
Learn how police officers and prosecutors initiate criminal cases.

How Sentencing Works FAQ
These frequently asked questions explain how judges decide what a convicted defendant's punishment will be.

Identity Theft FAQ
A good deadbolt on your front door won't protect you from one of the more modern and sinister crimes out there: identity theft. Here's what you need to know to protect yourself.

If You Are Questioned by the Police: FAQ
If a police officer wants to stop and question you, whether or not you must comply depends on the circumstances and the reasons the officer has for questioning you. This section explores some of the common questions people have about their rights and responsibilities when approached by a law enforcement officer.

Key Aspects of Modern Criminal Procedure: Defendant's Rights
A quick tour of the ways in which the U.S. Constitution attempts to ensure fair treatment for criminal defendants.

Knowing When An Arrest Is Legal
Learn when the police are permitted to make an arrest -- and how to tell if an arrest has actually taken place.

Landlord Liability for Criminal Acts and Activities FAQ
Landlords in most states now have at least some degree of legal responsibility to protect their tenants from would-be assailants and thieves, and from the criminal acts of fellow tenants.

Lie Detector Tests: Truth and Consequences
Learn how polygraph tests work, as well as what supporters and detractors have to say about them.

Police Questioning After Arrest
What really happens if the police fail to read a suspect his rights or use coercion to extract information from a suspect.

Police Questioning Prior to Arrest
If you haven't been arrested, but a police officer wants to question you about a crime, what should you do? Here are some tips.

Scientific Evidence: An Introduction
Learn about different types of scientific evidence and how such evidence may be used in court.

Search Warrants: What They Are and When They're Necessary
Learn when police officers must obtain a warrant before they search your home or other property.

Searches and Seizures FAQ
Your right to privacy when the police come knocking, pull you over, or stop you on the street.

Understanding Search and Seizure Law
Learn when the government can invade your privacy to hunt for evidence of a crime.

What Is Domestic Violence?
Knowing the definition of domestic violence can help you take action against it.

What Makes a Case a Criminal Case?
There are two fundamentally different types of court cases -- criminal and civil. Here's how to tell the difference.

When a Young Person Commits a Crime
A look at what happens in juvenile court.

Where Our Criminal Procedures Come From
How federal and state constitutions, legislatures and courts protect the rights of criminal defendants.

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide
A recent Supreme Court decision encourages you to stand your ground if you're stopped by police.