Can you give me examples of varying criminal laws across the different states that comprise the USA? Can the federal government ensure consistency? [more inside]
posted by modernnomad on Nov 10, 2012 - 21 answers

I received some junk mail designed to look like a tax form, and featuring the Great Seal of the United States, which is a crime. How should I report this, to best ensure the guilty are punished?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 on Jan 24, 2012 - 15 answers

How can I locate sources for statistics on the outcomes of Canadian criminal court cases, that include such data as type of defence counsel (ie Legal Aid, from large firm, high profile, new in field, or preferably cost of counsel), amount of time before trial, income/profession of defendant, sentence given, and sentence actually carried out? Does such data even exist? I'm only asking out of curiosity, not for any professional or education project.
posted by rupeh on Jan 11, 2012 - 7 answers

Has someone violated my rights? [more inside]
posted by defmute on Oct 24, 2011 - 14 answers

I live in Queensland, Australia. Is there a certain time you have to wait before your criminal record is wiped? I want to become a doctor... [more inside]
posted by Bacillus on Jun 15, 2011 - 12 answers

How many criminals are also victims of crime? [more inside]
posted by crazylegs on Jun 6, 2011 - 11 answers

Under British law, what sort of evidence would police need to already have in order for them to get a court to grant them permission to plant a bug? [more inside]
posted by baronessa on Apr 6, 2011 - 4 answers

My grandmother was just defrauded by a pair of con artists who, pretending to be me, told her that I was in a car accident in Canada and needed her to wire money. She's fine, but lost a few thousand dollars. She said that she doesn't mind losing the money (she's just happy I'm safe), and doesn't want to be bothered by the police. I respect that decision, but I'm concerned that if let off the hook, the con artists in question will be able to prey on others -- they are obviously targeting elderly people. Who can I report this fraud to? (Additionally, and out of curiosity -- any thoughts on how they discovered my relationship with my grandmother?) [more inside]
posted by tweebiscuit on Jan 20, 2011 - 18 answers

The whole BP oil spill (with few legal ramifications so far, although apparently there is a cap on the damages which BP would be required to pay) and the recurrent stories of copyright violations (with many outrageous fines to poor saps who got caught downloading movies and music) got me thinking: is anyone aware of a nice infographic of different fines issued / punitive damages awarded for different crimes? I am basically curious how it would look like for different countries, and if it could be used as a rough "how much we value what" scale. [more inside]
posted by TheyCallItPeace on Jun 8, 2010 - 5 answers

Please help me find statistics on victimless crime. More specifically, I’m looking for statistics showing what proportion of U.S. crime during a given period—a month, a year, whatever—is considered victimless. (Without endorsing this definition, for this project I consider victimless crime to be crime that doesn’t involve direct harm to others: drug use not linked to violent trafficking, sodomy (pre-Lawrence v. Texas), public nudity, etc.)
posted by anonymous on Feb 16, 2010 - 2 answers

How do criminals convince other criminals they aren't (undercover) police?
posted by stinkycheese on Nov 4, 2009 - 35 answers

"Natural person" / "This court has no jurisdiction over me" in depth article? [more inside]
posted by yesno on Apr 3, 2009 - 5 answers

Where can I find out more about the investigation techniques used by private investigators? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jan 19, 2009 - 9 answers

Can anyone recommend a good NYC criminal defense attorney to help me with a disorderly conduct charge? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 28, 2008 - 3 answers

What would a person have to do in order to get a one year jail sentence in the California penal system. [more inside]
posted by SECONDHANDSMOTE on Feb 15, 2008 - 18 answers

Prosecuting someone for a crime that someone has already been convicted of? [more inside]
posted by yesno on Feb 14, 2008 - 13 answers

According to these pages on the U.S. Bureau of Justice site, imprisonment for public order offenses suddenly fell by a third in 2002. Why?
posted by painquale on Jan 12, 2008 - 11 answers

Iowa & mental health: What can someone do if they're threatened with being admitted for psychiatric reasons against their will? What happens? Does it really only take two other people signing a document? Is threatening someone with this a crime? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 14, 2007 - 18 answers

Is there any sort of recognised optical illusion or visual deficit that can make it hard to realize that a vehicle is stationary? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 16, 2006 - 17 answers

Can you libel someone in fiction if you don't use their name? If I were to write a story based on a real murder, in which anyone from my home town would instantly recognize the source, can an acquitted murderer sue me? [more inside]
posted by Bookhouse on Jul 27, 2006 - 18 answers

Say that a (US) presidential administration was doing something it wasn't supposed to be doing. Could a future presidential administration find this out and prosecute the former administration's officials? [more inside]
posted by ontic on Mar 27, 2006 - 15 answers

Why do people who are fighting for abortion to be made completely illegal never ever talk about what punishment the woman should get? If it's murder, why isn't the woman who gets prosecuted? Why just doctors? How does that make any sense, if it's really murder? Isn't the woman a criminal too in their eyes? [more inside]
posted by amberglow on Mar 8, 2006 - 68 answers

So there's a grand jury that the special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald has empaneled. 23 members, residents of Wahington D.C. Some questions. [more inside]
posted by Gyan on Oct 25, 2005 - 10 answers

I've searched and searched, but is there a database available to find general crimes in your neighborhood like burglaries? I know about the sex offender database, but I can't find anything but general statistics from the police department. I'm in Chicago.
posted by agregoli on Jan 4, 2005 - 14 answers

What happens if an American commits a crime in a less-than-free foreign country? [MI] [more inside]
posted by BradNelson on Jan 3, 2005 - 27 answers

DrRichardKimbleFilter:

A man is arrested for murder, and appears absolutely 100% sure to be convicted. He then escapes from prison (assume no one is hurt or property damaged in the escape,) tracks down the real killer, and proves beyond any doubt whatsoever that he is innocent as all hell, and all murder charges were dropped.

How much trouble is this guy going to be in for escaping? What fate awaits him?

Asking both the strictly legal answer, and thoughts on what would actually end up happening.
posted by John Kenneth Fisher on Dec 29, 2004 - 15 answers

[Social consciense filter]
I know, for a fact, that someone is drink driving EVERY DAY. Not just a few pints, but at LEAST 8pints and then driving home. Mostly it's a short, five minute drive, but sometimes it's longer distance. I have tried to talk to him and get him to stop - to walk to the pub. His brother has tried to talk to him. He just won't. He is also diabetic, so the drink has adverse effects on his sugar levels, which makes him more dangerous. He can't even walk properly when he gets home, so goodness knows how he can drive. The problem is, this person is a relative - and he's given me somewhere to live when I had nowhere.

I just don't know what to do. Would you inform someone? Or would you keep quiet? I don't particularly WANT to 'rat' on him, but what happens if he hits someone, and I know I could have stopped it? What would you do?
posted by anonymous on Dec 6, 2004 - 40 answers

My home was burgled yesterday while my wife and I were at work. Our cats are uninjured; my camera collection, large collection of criterion & kino DVDs, powerbook & lcd projector, and all of her good jewelry were not so lucky.

My question: how do I go about exacting revenge?
posted by luriete on Sep 9, 2004 - 31 answers

What happens to someone's personal debt (ex. credit cards, student loans) if s/he goes to prison? Does it matter if the term is <10 years? Life? (Not that I need to worry personally, just curious.)
posted by ferociouskitty on Sep 1, 2004 - 6 answers

I played the rock-hard quiz computer at a London pub, and lost. The machine informed me that I'd won £2, so I pressed collect. £4 came out. I continued collecting, without the onscreen figure of £2 diminishing. As a penniless student, I emptied the machine and departed in a trance-like state, with £66 (US$118). The barman congratulated me, saying I was the first person he'd ever seen win anything on it. Lovely chap.

Have I committed a crime?
(US Lawyers: since I'm a foreigner, I imagine it's OK to give your opinion here. But then, IANAL.) [more inside]
posted by Pretty_Generic on May 7, 2004 - 29 answers

Legal question time! I hosted a party, and I was charged with Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor, section ORS 471.410, Oregon Law. Problem is, I am not 21. More inside. (Note: Any advice will not be referred as legal guidance.) [more inside]
posted by Keyser Soze on May 3, 2004 - 64 answers

My friend is in very bad trouble. We need some legal advice for Oregon, especially in regards to Measure 11. More inside. [more inside]
posted by Keyser Soze on Mar 1, 2004 - 22 answers