Arizona has had a backlog of more than 6,000 rape kits from unresolved sexual assault cases, dating back to 2000. By the end of April, the State had tested around half of these kits and identified and indicted eight suspects, most of who are already in jail for other crimes. This project -- start...
When it comes to the subject of driving under the influence, Arizona is what we refer to as a zero tolerance state. No three strikes and youre out in Arizona. You can straight up be arrested by law enforcement for being too drunk. While those states with more lenient DUI laws would just let you ...
Capital punishment is legal in Arizona. In violent crimes cases where prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty, you may wonder if criminal attorneys should have direct access to the victims and their families to question them about their wants and wishes with regard to the Defendants sentenc...
Taser, the company known for making the electrical shocking devices that nearly every police officer carries, has rebranded as a new company, Axon, and is developing a new law enforcement tool: a crowdsourced database of videos. While the program aims to follow through on prominent examples of t...
If youre being investigated for a crime, whether you know it or not, the Fourth Amendment is your best friend. This is because the Fourth Amendment was created to protect people who were being investigated by the state for a crime, giving them rights that were intended to prevent the government ...
A man in Florida has settled a civil rights lawsuit against his local police department after they wrongfully arrested him for possession of methamphetamine. The incident, however, is only one instance of a larger problem in law enforcement: The field testing kits they use to detect drugs are not...
When the Supreme Court of the United States makes a statement about the law, all of the courts in the country are bound by what it says, including those in Arizona. Now that there are finally nine Justices on the bench – making a 4-4 tie less likely – the Court is primed to hear some high-profile...
Drugs are a serious problem in Mohave County, Arizona. We are well into the second half of 2017, and since January of this year, drug raids and arrests have been staggering, particularly in Kingman, Bullhead City and Green Valley. These drug busts have involved a great deal of surveillance to mak...
Theres a warrant out for your arrest, and you know about it, and its making you jittery and on edge all the time. You dont want to go to jail, thats certain, but the paranoia is eating at you. Even persons who have been in the spotlight get arrest warrants out for them and refuse to turn them...
For the first time since they started using body cameras two years ago, police footage from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been released to the public. It appears to show cops framing a suspect for drug possession by planting a bag of cocaine on him during an arrest for hit-and-run....
In Arizona, criminal proceedings follow a set order of events. Knowing what happens and when can help you understand the criminal justice system and where your case is heading. Police Investigation The first step in all criminal cases is the police investigation, where police officers gather ev...
What is a Safety Corridor? If you have traveled on I-40 around the Kingman area, you have likely noticed the signs indicating “Safety Corridor” and “Zero Tolerance”. By the end of 2016, such signs were erected on 3 separate sections of highway in Arizona. These areas were identified by the Ari...
For years, residents in all 50 states have had to abide by the implied consent law. This law dictates that there is an automatic assumption of consent to submit an alcohol or drug test in the event that a driver is suspected of a DUI. Therefore, if an officer reasonably suspects that a motorist h...
The Law Offices of Shawn B. Hamp is excited to announce that it has joined the Critical Response Team for the United States Concealed Carry Association! As a member of this team, the Law Offices of Shawn B. Hamp provides round-the-clock service to members who are forced to defend themselves using...
If youve been arrested and charged with a crime in Arizona, you probably have questions about your cases journey through the criminal justice system. This is especially true if youve never been accused of committing a crime, before. Heres a brief overview of the path through the criminal jus...
The Utah detective, who viciously arrested a nurse while trying to perform an illegal search for evidence in a drunk driving crime, has been fired from the police force in a rare instance of police accountability. Viral Video of Detective Arresting Nurse The situation began on July 26, 2017, in...
The decision could provide a new argument for defendants seeking to get out from under burdensome release conditions.
Admin per se Suspension and the 15 day Rule You may suffer a drivers license suspension even if you are never convicted of a crime. If you are arrested for suspicion of driving a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI), the arresting officer will serve you with an Admin pe...
Federal DUI cases in the Grand Canyon National Park The United States District Court has a location within the Grand Canyon National Park. Many people are surprised to learn that committing crimes on federal lands, such as within a National Park, are federal crimes and handled in United States...
The number of drivers arrested on suspicion of DUI in Arizona doubled during the 2017 Halloween weekend compared to last year, according to the Arizona Governor's Office of Highway Safety.
If you are charged with a DUI, there are numerous defenses that you can raise, one of which is having a medical condition. Sometimes those accused of driving under the influence are not intoxicated but are still exhibiting the signs of impairment because they suffer from a disease or disorder. Th...
In one of our recent blog posts, we covered the story of a beloved USC professor and his bogus arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). The incident highlights the often-forgotten fact that, in the American legal system, theres a huge difference between an arrest and a conviction. Unfortuna...
The Supreme Court of Arizona decided a case, State v. Havatone, this past March to determine when a law enforcement officer can draw blood from an unconscious individual. In the case, the defendant, Don Jacob Havatone, was seen driving erratically and collided with another vehicle. He was transpo...
Terry Harold James, 61, is a Kingman resident. He recently pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of marijuana paraphernalia. Thats his second case this year. A jury just convicted him of disorderly conduct with a weapon and unlawful discharge of a weapon from his first case of this...
Law enforcement agents make mistakes. Contrary to popular belief, these perceived moral enforcers are capable of making mistakes and abusing the inordinate level of authority they are granted by state and federal governments. A plethora of stories pertaining to false arrests and police misconduct...
If you have been arrested or charged with a crime you may be feeling frightened, anxious, and uncertain of what your future holds. The competent and experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Shawn B. Hamp can help you during this difficult time. We are dedicated to fighting for the rights of our clients and providing excellent legal representation to those who have been accused of a crime. Contact our firm today to discuss your case in a free case consultation.
