It is a relatively short drive from Grand Rapids to Calhoun County, Michigan. That is where a pair of brothers each faces multiple charges of sexual assaults on children.According to a recent news article, the Battle Creek brothers were arraigned on four counts each...
Month: March 2017
Ending Training of a Controversial Police Interrogation Tactic
The presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of the U.S. criminal justice system. It dictates that a person should not be presumed guilty merely because he or she has been accused of a crime. However, that protection serves no purpose in cases where a confession has...
Why mental competence matters in criminal law
In Michigan, a criminal trial cannot proceed if the defendant is mentally incapable of participating in his or her own defense. The defendant’s mental abilities are often in dispute at trial.For example, the attorney for a Flint woman charged with arson in...
Mich. Legislature sends criminal justice reform bills to Gov.
A series of “milestone” criminal law bills have passed the Michigan legislature, potentially signaling a significant shift in the way the state treats minor offenders.According to the Detroit Free Press, the package of 20 bills would make several changes...
Michigan politician blames OWI arrest on ‘damn chicken nuggets’
As controversial as drinking and driving is, sometimes there are news stories about OWI that are amusing -- at least, to those of us not facing the charges.WXIN-TV is reporting that a Michigan county commissioner was arrested back in December on suspicion of drinking...