Understanding the criminal court system can seem confusing and complex. Often, there can be multiple charges for one incident making the situation feel overly complicated. Mayhem and battery can be charges that seem similar and difficult to distinguish. While they are...
K&L Blog
When can Wisconsin police stop and question a person?
Somewhere between a police officer letting you go about your business and arresting you and hauling you to jail is the officer stopping you on the street. Being detained by a cop is not the same thing as getting arrested. But it can be intimidating and potentially...
The Debate Over No-Knock Warrants in Wisconsin
States throughout the country are considering revising laws regarding no-knock warrants in response to public outrage after the Breonna Taylor case. The case brought national attention to these legal tools after enforcement officers shot and killed a 26-year-old woman...
Should Wisconsin Introduce Stricter Bail Laws?
Two high-profile cases have led Wisconsin lawmakers to reconsider the state’s bail laws. The first involves the tragic Christmas Parade accident in Waukesha on November 21. In that case a driver allegedly took a plow through the parade crowd, killing six and injuring...
What are the steps in a misdemeanor case in Wisconsin?
A conviction does not happen overnight. For a person to be convicted in Wisconsin, they must have gone through all of the required steps of the prosecution. The number of steps that a person has to take after being charged with a misdemeanor will depend on the result...
What is the Safer Wisconsin plan?
You may have heard about Safer Wisconsin and that it has something to do with law enforcement, but you might not have gotten the details yet. Basically, Safer Wisconsin is a package of proposed criminal justice reforms that mix treatment for drug addiction and mental...
Do I need an attorney for my arraignment?
Under the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, you have the right to have an attorney alongside you to advise and represent you at any time after the police arrest you. Besides trial, your right to an attorney includes pretrial hearings like the arraignment. But...
What constitutes disorderly conduct in Milwaukee?
Criminal charges can be frustrating and confusing. In addition to the criminal charge, you could also face problems at school or work because of the accusations against you. Disorderly conduct tends to be a charge that officers and prosecutors add to a case because...
Is it legal to carry a knife in Wisconsin?
Knives have been important tools for millions of years. Today, virtually everybody uses a knife on a daily basis to cook or eat food. Many industries in the Milwaukee area require workers to use knives to do their jobs. Knives are also useful for hunting, fishing,...
Do I really have the right to remain silent?
If you have watched any TV crime shows, you probably are familiar with the words actors portraying police officers often use when they arrest someone. You likely have heard them say something like this: “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and...