29 topics covered across all 50 states and DC. Pick a topic to see your state's rules.
Your federal constitutional rights apply if you're arrested in Wisconsin — Miranda, right to remain silent, right to counsel. Phone-call rule: Reasonable phone access.
See all 51 jurisdictions →New Hampshire assault charges: simple assault is typically Class B misdemeanor up to 1 yr; aggravated forms can reach up to 15 yrs.
See all 51 jurisdictions →New York criminal defendants have a right to appeal — but appeals are limited to legal errors preserved at trial, run on tight deadlines (often 30 days), and reverse only ~10% of cases.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Alabama cyber-crime cases combine state computer-crime statutes with federal CFAA and other digital-crime laws. Federal prosecution is common for major cases.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Alaska domestic violence charges combine an underlying assault/battery offense with state-specific DV enhancements. Mandatory arrest on probable cause.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Wisconsin drug courts offer eligible defendants treatment-based alternatives to incarceration. Successful completion can result in dismissed charges or reduced sentences.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Maine drug law: cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
See all 51 jurisdictions →North Dakota's record-clearing process is called sealing. Reasonable but selective — many offenses are eligible, but certain categories (violent, sex, DUI in some states) are usually excluded.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Maine federal criminal charges differ from state — federal sentencing guidelines, mandatory minimums, no parole, and 90%+ conviction rates. Specialized federal-experienced counsel essential.
See all 51 jurisdictions →District of Columbia divides offenses into felonies (more serious) and misdemeanors (less serious). DC has no formal lettered classification but uses sentencing guidelines analogous to federal practice.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Arizona concealed carry: Permitless; permits still available. Open carry: Legal. Red flag (ERPO) law: No state red-flag law.
See all 51 jurisdictions →New York hate crime laws enhance penalties for offenses motivated by bias against protected categories: Race, color, national origin, and others.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Vermont juvenile court has jurisdiction over offenders under age 18. Transfer to adult court generally requires a minimum age of 14.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Florida juvenile records can typically be expunged or sealed — sometimes automatically at age of majority, sometimes by petition. Procedures and eligibility vary by state.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Minnesota criminal suspects have Miranda rights — to remain silent + to attorney — but rights only apply during "custodial interrogation," not all police questioning. Suppression remedies require careful analysis.
See all 51 jurisdictions →New Mexico parole / supervised release: Discretionary parole + mandatory release.
See all 51 jurisdictions →North Carolina convicted defendants can challenge their convictions through post-conviction relief — direct appeal, state habeas corpus, federal habeas, and DNA / actual-innocence motions.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Kansas probation-violation hearings use preponderance of the evidence — a lower standard than the original conviction. Penalties can include the original suspended sentence.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Ohio criminal restitution requires defendants to repay victims for losses caused by the crime — mandatory in many cases, enforceable as civil judgment, often non-dischargeable in bankruptcy.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Vermont restraining-order violations are criminal offenses — typically misdemeanors but can be felonies for repeat / aggravated cases. Federal firearm prohibitions also kick in.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Louisiana criminal defendants can suppress evidence obtained through unlawful searches under the 4th Amendment — successful suppression often leads to case dismissal.
See all 51 jurisdictions →New Mexico is a Stand Your Ground state — no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Vermont criminal defendants can pursue sentence reduction post-conviction through compassionate release, First Step Act retroactive provisions, Rule 35 motions, and clemency / commutation petitions.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Tennessee sex-crime convictions trigger registration on the Tennessee Sex Offender Registry, plus federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) requirements.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Kentucky shoplifting is typically misdemeanor under specific dollar thresholds — but felony charges + federal organized retail crime laws apply for larger amounts or repeat offenses.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Alaska's criminal statute of limitations sets how long prosecutors have to bring charges. Misdemeanors: 5 years. Most felonies: 5-10 years. No SOL on murder, kidnapping, sex offenses against minors.
See all 51 jurisdictions →Georgia theft becomes felony at $1. Below threshold: Misdemeanor up to 1 yr (under $1,500).
See all 51 jurisdictions →South Carolina weapons charges range from misdemeanor possession to felony armed-criminal-action. Federal § 922(g) lifetime bars apply on top of state law.
See all 51 jurisdictions →White-collar crimes are usually federal — fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, securities violations, tax evasion. District of Columbia cases are typically prosecuted by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
See all 51 jurisdictions →These guides are for general information only and do not constitute legal advice. Laws change and outcomes depend on your specific situation — talk to a licensed attorney before acting on anything you read here.