Charleston County Public Library

The criminal law handbook, know your rights, survive the system, Paul Bergman, J.D. & Sara J. Berman, J.D

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

index present

non fiction

The criminal law handbook

bibliography

857059674

Paul Bergman, J.D. & Sara J. Berman, J.D

know your rights, survive the system

Overview: Criminal law in plain English. The criminal justice system becomes increasingly complex each year with new laws affecting legal processes. The Criminal Law Handbook explains every part of a criminal case including: arrests; -- booking; -- preliminary hearings; -- charges; -- bail; -- arraignment; -- search and seizure; -- plea bargains; -- sentencing; -- juveniles. The revised edition covers the latest changes in criminal law, including U.S Supreme Court cases. Written by the authors of Represent Yourself in Court, Paul Bergman, J.D. and Sara Berman, J.D

Introduction: Walk-through of the case of State v Andrea Davidson, a fictional robbery prosecution -- Talking To The Police. Police questioning of people who haven't been taken into custody -- Police questioning of arrestees -- Search And Seizure. Constitutional background -- What is the status of electronic tracking technology under the Fourth Amendment -- Search warrants -- Consent searches -- Plain view doctrine -- Warrantless searches incident to arrest -- Stop and frisk searches -- Searches of cars and occupants -- Warrantless searches or entries under emergency (exigent) circumstances -- Miscellaneous warrantless searches -- Arrest : When It Happens, What It Means. General arrest principles -- Arrest warrants -- Warrantless arrests -- Use of force when making arrests -- Citizens' arrests -- Eyewitness Identification : Psychology & Procedures. Overview of eyewitness identification procedures -- Psychology of eyewitness identification -- Lineups -- Showups -- Photo identifications -- Motions to suppress identifications -- Booking And Bail : Checking In & Out Of Jail: -- Booking process -- Arranging for bail -- Own recognizance release (release OR) -- From Suspect To Defendant. Crime and criminal cases -- To charge or not to charge, that is the question -- Mechanics of charging -- Grand juries -- Diversion -- Criminal Defense Lawyers. Do I need a lawyer? -- Court-appointed attorneys -- Private defense attorneys -- Self-representation -- Understanding The Attorney-Client Relationship In A Criminal Case. Confidentiality -- Client-centered decision making -- Lawyer-client communication -- Representing guilty defendants -- Competent clients -- Walk Through Criminal Court. Courthouse -- Courtroom -- Courtroom players -- Courtroom behavior -- Arraignments. Arraignment basics -- Self-representation at arraignment -- Developing The Defense Strategy. Overview -- How the defendant's version of events may limit defense strategies -- When attorneys ignore a defendant's version of events -- Importance of honesty in developing a defense strategy -- Crimespeak: Understanding The Language Of Criminal Laws: -- Mens Rea -- Meaning of frequently used legal language -- Derivative criminal responsibility -- Murder and manslaughter -- Sexual violence -- Burglary -- Robbery -- Theft -- Hate crimes -- Patriot Act -- White collar crimes -- Defensespeak: Common Defenses To Criminal Charges: -- Prosecutor's failure to prove guilt -- Partial defenses -- Self-defense -- Alibi -- Insanity -- Intoxication (under the influence of drugs or alcohol) -- Entrapment -- Jury nullification -- Discovery: Exchanging Information With The Prosecution: -- Modern discovery policy -- Discovery of information helpful to the defense -- Discovery of harmful information -- Reciprocal discovery -- Investigating The Facts: -- Interviewing prosecution witnesses -- Finding and interviewing defense witnesses -- Other investigation tasks and their costs -- Preliminary Hearings: -- What preliminary hearings are and when they are held -- Basic rights during preliminary hearings -- Common defense and prosecution strategies -- Fundamental Trial Rights Of The Defense: -- Defendant's right to due process of law -- Prosecution's burden of proof -- Defendant's right to remain silent -- Defendant's right to confront witnesses -- Defendant's (and the media's) right to a public trial -- Defendant's right to a jury trial -- Defendant's right to counsel -- Defendant's right to a speedy trial -- Defendant's right not to be placed in double jeopardy -- Basic Evidence Rules In Criminal Trials: -- Overview -- Rules regulating the content of testimony -- Rules regulating the manner of testimony -- Scientific evidence -- Privileged (confidential) information -- Motions And Their Role In Criminal Cases: -- Basic procedures -- Common pretrial motions -- Motions during trial -- Posttrial motions -- Plea Bargains: How Most Criminal Cases End: -- Plea bargaining-terminology and timing -- Pros and cons of plea bargains -- Plea bargaining process -- Strategy of negotiating pleas bargains -- Trial Process: -- Summary of the trial process -- Choosing a judge or jury trial -- Jury Voir Dire -- Motions in Limine -- Opening statements -- Prosecution's case-in-chief -- Direct examination of witnesses -- Cross-examination -- Defense motion to dismiss -- Defendant's case-in-chief -- Closing argument -- Instructing the jury -- Jury deliberations and verdict -- Sentencing: -- Overview of sentencing -- Sentencing procedures -- Sentence options -- Community service -- Miscellaneous alternative sentences -- Death penalty -- Appeals: -- Appeals -- Writs -- How The Criminal Justice System Works: -- Questions and answers about DUI (driving under the influence) -- DUI case examples -- Juvenile Courts And Procedures: -- Brief history of US juvenile courts -- Juvenile court jurisdiction -- Deciding whether to file charges -- Right to counsel and other constitutional rights -- Trying juveniles as adults -- Sentencing (disposition) options -- Sealing juvenile court records -- Prisoners' Rules: -- Prisons and prisoner's rights -- Legal resources for prisoners and their families -- Parole -- Pardons -- Looking Up The Law: -- What to research -- Where to do research -- Glossary -- Index

Know your rights, survive the system