Wrongful convictions are an unfortunate reality in Oklahoma and across the country. When a person is wrongfully convicted of a crime that they did not commit, achieving real justice in the case can be difficult. According to a 2020 study by the National Registry of...
Criminal Defense
What are the most common defenses for a murder charge?
In Oklahoma and throughout the country, murder is perhaps the most serious criminal charge you can face. Sometimes, depending on the circumstances of the case, the right defense can reduce the charge. It’s important to know what defenses can be used against such a...
Sexual assault: definitions and criminal charges
Being charged with a sexual assault violation is one of the most severe crimes in Oklahoma. These charges are often the direct cause of a survivor stating that they did not give their permission for a sexual encounter or act to occur. Below is a brief overview of...
Eligibility for criminal record expungement
Having a criminal record may limit your access to employment, housing and education. However, some states such as Oklahoma have created expungement laws to seal criminal records after a period of time. Although the crime does not always disappear completely,...
The reliability of eyewitness testimony
People put a great deal of faith in things they see for themselves. But in Oklahoma and across the country, it's become increasingly clear that eyewitness testimony is unreliable. Once the cornerstone of a trial and seen as incredibly valuable, eyewitness testimony is...
Oklahoma castle doctrine or stand your ground laws
Oklahoma statutes include what is known as a castle doctrine or stand your ground laws. A resident of Oklahoma is wise to have an essential understanding of what is included and excluded from the castle doctrine in the Sooner State. Castle doctrine or stand your...
How reliable are police lineups?
Individuals in Oklahoma and elsewhere are sometimes charged and convicted of crimes based on witness identification. These include identifications made by eyewitnesses to an alleged criminal event. This also includes identification made during lineups facilitated by...
Facing charges of manslaughter
Causing the death of another person is something you may never have imagined. Nevertheless, you are now facing criminal charges that could alter the rest of your life. Homicide is the general category for crimes that involve the taking of someone's life. However,...
Is a suspended or revoked driver’s license worse?
A police officer pulling you over can happen for a number of reasons. Typically, anxiety sets in anytime someone sees those blue lights in their rearview mirror. If you had a few drinks before getting behind the wheel, you may worry that your simple traffic stop could...
Do you have a loved one negatively affected by fentanyl?
If you have a loved one with an addiction, his or her disease may have affected you more than you realize. You may have tried to control your loved one's behavior in efforts to make his or her life easier or healthier. You may have even enabled the addiction without...