Newsletters

CRIMINAL INSTRUMENTS & TOOLS

A person commits an offense if he or she possesses criminal instruments or tools with the intent to use the criminal instruments or tools in the commission of a crime. A person also commits the offense of criminal instruments and tools if he or she manufactures, sells, or adapts criminal instruments or tools, with the intent to use, to aid in the use, or to permit another person to use the criminal instruments or tools in the commission of a crime.

Overview of Prison Offenses

Even after a defendant has been convicted and sentenced to a prison term, he may be charged, convicted, and sentenced again for any offenses committed while in prison. A prison is defined as a correctional or detention facility. Although states vary on the types of chargeable prison offenses, there are some general offenses both under numerous state laws and federal law.

Prosecutions for State Insurance Fraud

Most states have statutes governing the issue of insurance fraud. One may be charged with insurance fraud if: The individual prepared or presented a false or fraudulent written statement; the individual aided, solicited, or conspired in presenting a fraudulent written statement; the individual had the specific intent to defraud the insurer.

TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Governments:Federal Government:Property

CLEMENCY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS

In some states, legislatures have recently enacted laws that grant the possibility of clemency by the states' governors for domestic violence victims who have been convicted of certain offenses, such as murder and manslaughter. In those states, the governors are entitled to request a clemency investigation by the states' parole boards into cases where defendants have pleaded guilty or have been convicted of those offenses when the offenses were directly related to the defendants' being victimized by domestic violence.