Criminal Defense

Expungement can help eligible individuals clear or restrict access to certain criminal records, but the rules vary significantly by state. Learn the difference between expungement and record sealing, whether arrests, dismissed charges, convictions, and juvenile records may qualify, how waiting periods and eligibility requirements work, and what happens when a petition is filed. This guide also explains background checks, employment and housing issues, federal convictions, pardons, professional licensing, common mistakes, and what to do if a criminal record cannot be expunged.

Beast

Sep 26, 2026·24 min

A search and seizure involves police examining or taking control of a person, property, or information during a criminal investigation. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, but police do not always need a warrant. Learn when warrants are required, what probable cause means, common exceptions to the warrant requirement, and how illegally obtained evidence may be challenged in a criminal case.

Beast

Sep 21, 2026·21 min

Self-defense is a legal defense that may apply when a person uses force to protect themselves or another person from an immediate threat. Whether the use of force is legally justified depends on factors such as the nature of the threat, the person's reasonable belief that force was necessary, the amount of force used, and the laws of the state where the incident occurred. Rules concerning deadly force, the duty to retreat, stand-your-ground laws, and defense of others can vary significantly by jurisdiction. This guide explains when self-defense may be legally justified, how courts evaluate claims, what can make a use of force excessive, and what generally happens after someone raises self-defense as a defense.

Beast

Sep 19, 2026·21 min

An arraignment is an early court proceeding in a criminal case where a defendant is formally informed of the charges and asked to enter a plea. Depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances, the hearing may also address legal representation, bail or pretrial release, and the next steps in the case. An arraignment is not a criminal trial and does not determine whether the defendant is guilty. This guide explains what happens during an arraignment, the different types of pleas, how the process differs from an initial appearance or preliminary hearing, and what generally happens after the hearing.

Beast

Sep 19, 2026·19 min