Baton Rouge Criminal Defense Law Blog

If a police officer pulls you over in traffic, you can bet he or she is going to claim to have had reasonable cause to do so. Whether that means you're tail light was not functioning or the officer allegedly caught you on a radar gun traveling at speeds that exceeded the posted limits in the area, the end result of the traffic stop may be a mere warning, a written citation or worse.

The latter may include many different issues, such as the officer asking you to exit your vehicle, which typically means he or she suspects you of drunk driving or some other impairment. At this point, it's critical that you clearly understand your rights and know where to seek support to help protect them. As the situation unfolds, the officer may ask you to take a breath test. Do you know that if you're hypoglycemic, the results of your test may mistakenly register positive for alcohol on your breath?

The death of a person is a tragic event. And being accused of causing a death is a very serious situation to be in. Whether it is someone you know or not, facing a murder charge is one that not only has severe potential penalties but also has the ability to harm one's personal and professional reputation. Thus, it is vital to explore criminal defense options as a means to reduce and even prevent these consequences from occurring.

What constitutes first-degree murder in Louisiana? This offense occurs when a human being is killed and the offender has specific intent to kill or to inflict great bodily harm. Additionally, the offender engaged in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of an aggravated kidnapping, second degree kidnapping, aggravated escape, aggravated arson, aggravated or first degree rape, forcible or second degree rape, aggravated burglary, armed robbery, assault by drive-by shooting, first degree robbery, second degree robbery, simple robbery and other similar offenses.

When charged with a crime, those accused often think about the penalties he or she might have to endure if a conviction results. This typically comes in the form of jail time and fines. For some crimes, such as white collar crimes, the victims harmed by the supposed crime could be owed restitution. Thus, offenders convicted of a crime may have to pay a certain amount of money in order to make a victim whole again.

When convicted of a crime, the judge determines what criminal consequences a defendant will face. When evidence indicates that the victim of a crime suffered some form of financial setback, restitution might be ordered as a means to restore a victim financially to the point where he or she was prior to the commission of the crime.

If you've ever seen the old TV show "Dragnet," you may recall a detective inevitably saying, "Book 'em, Danno" at some point during every episode. The phrase refers to processing a suspect into the criminal justice system when a police officer has made an arrest. In other words, if a law enforcement agent is booking you, he or she suspects you of a crime, and you are going to spend at least the next half hour, several hours or longer behind bars.

If you've never visited a police station, such circumstances can be frightening. You may see and hear things that shock you if there are other situations unfolding at the time. Once the booking process is complete, three things may occur: They might release you after signing a promise to appear in court. A judge might set a bail amount to secure a financial guarantee in addition to the documents you sign. You might stay in jail. Louisiana law guarantees your right to request legal support.