If a Madison police officer or Dane County sheriff's deputy pulls you over and wants to search your vehicle, you need to know your rights. Specifically, whether you have the right to decline the search or if you must comply. Generally, under the Fourth Amendment of...
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the Underdogs.
Fearless.
Confident.
Champions for
the Underdogs.
Madison Criminal Defense Blog
The Cellphone Surveillance Tech Used By Madison Police
Nearly everyone carries a cellphone everywhere they go, and these devices record much more than user's phone calls and text messages. Not surprisingly, cellphone information has become more and more important to police investigations over the years. Many people wonder...
Wisconsin’s jail alternatives that help drug offenders
You need treatment, not incarceration. The jails and prisons already are full. And with the COVID-19 pandemic upon us, you really hope to avoid going to such facilities because the virus potentially spreads like wildfire in them. You want a second chance. Maybe even a...
Is It Time For Bail Reform In Wisconsin?
First, it's important to understand what bail jumping is. Many people think that people are only charged with bail jumping if they leave town trying to evade a criminal charge. In reality, bail jumping is much more expansive than that in Wisconsin. Any violation of...
What is revocation-only prison admission?
The issue of who can avoid prison or complete their sentence back in the world is controversial here in Wisconsin. This spring, competing bills that would have amended the state's parole and probation rules failed to pass the Legislature. One bill would have toughened...
Why has Wisconsin’s prison population boomed?
Wisconsin's prison system is currently at about 133 percent of capacity. Since 1990, the total number of prisoners has roughly tripled, from about 7,000 inmates to 23,775 in 2018. Experts estimate that the state's prison population will reach 24,350 by the end of...
Is Police Reform Possible In Wisconsin?
With calls to defund or even dismantle the police, law enforcement reform has become a major topic of discussion recently. Concerns are expansive, from use of force such as chokeholds to no-knock warrants to the sheer amount of the police budget in a time when budgets...
5 things not to do when being questioned by police
When we are in stressful situations, we often forget to stay calm or to assert our rights. It can be difficult to keep a clear head when faced with pressing questions from authority. However, what you do when talking to the police can have a big impact on your case....
What is Marsy’s Law?
Wisconsin recently became the latest state to pass the crime victims’ rights legislation known as Marsy’s Law. Its supporters insist that the law makes the rights of victims and their families as strong as the rights of the accused. Opponents, however, note that...
What Is The Most Charged Crime In Wisconsin?
If asked to guess the most charged crime in the state of Wisconsin, most would assume it's a common misdemeanor like marijuana possession or theft. They may be surprised to learn the real answer: Bail jumping. The number of bail jumping charges in Wisconsin has surged...