Homicide charges are the most severe charges a person can face in Louisiana, a state which supports capital punishment. A person being investigated for murder may feel like all hope is lost, that no matter what kind of defense can be put together, he or she will face insurmountable consequences. While it is true that…
Per the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, criminal defendants are guaranteed several rights regarding their movement through the criminal justice system. These rights include: The right to a public trial without unnecessary delay The right to know who their accusers are The right to know the nature of the charges against them The right…
Louisiana is known as “the world’s prison capital” for having not only the highest incarceration rate in the country, but in the entire world. Countries comparable to the United States have an average rate of 100 prisoners per 100,000 adults; in Louisiana, this number skyrockets to 816 prisoners per 100,000. Louisiana laws are slowly changing,…
Although a highly controversial subject, capital punishment remains a legal penalty in the United States. A grand majority of states may still impose the death penalty for the most heinous offenses. In Louisiana, cases in which a defendant may be sentenced to death proceed differently from other felony trials. If you have recently been charged…
Overall, there are higher instances of violent crime in the southern United States than anywhere else in the country, yet one of those states has persistently been named the “Murder Capital of America” for nearly three decades. Louisiana has the highest homicide rate in the United States for 34 consecutive years, from 1989 to 2022….
Louisiana is caught up in the national opioid abuse epidemic. To curb the crisis, Governor John Bel Edwards recently signed a series of bills pertaining to the prescription of opioids. These laws restrict prescriptions and aim to block “doctor shopping.” With the sixth-highest opioid-prescribing rate in the country, lawmakers hope the new restrictions will prevent…
Individuals convicted of sex crimes in this country face more hardships beyond their sentence than those convicted of any other offense. Although laws aimed at people convicted of sex crimes intend to protect society, they often indirectly encourage harassment, ostracism, and even violence against sex offenders. If you are arrested for a sex crime in…
Education is the gateway to opportunity. Unfortunately, not everyone in the United States has keys to that gateway. In Louisiana, one out of every eighty-six adults is behind bars. The state is often dubbed “the world’s prison capital” as it holds more prisoners than anywhere else in the world. With some of the toughest sentencing…
All criminal charges are classified as an infraction, felony, or misdemeanor. While infractions are the least severe, both misdemeanor and felony charges face penalties such as steep fines, incarceration, probation, and more. The penalties for a charge are largely dependent on the circumstances surrounding the case. In the state of Louisiana, how individuals have been…
Due to nationwide implied consent laws, drivers who are stopped for DWI face a difficult decision. They can either proceed with the blood or breathalyzer test the officer wishes to conduct, or they can refuse the test to avoid providing incriminating evidence. Unfortunately, choosing the latter option can also lead to negative consequences. It is…