New Federal Commission Formed to Develop National Forensic Standards

 Posted on February 20, 2014 in Criminal Defense

According to the Innocence Project, "more than half of DNA exonerations involve faulty forensic evidence from crime labs and unreliable methods such as bite-mark analysis."

Because of these high statistics, the US Department of Justice and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has announced the first ever national commission on forensic science. This 37 member commission will include forensics practitioners, scientists, lawyers and members of law enforcement. The commission’s goal is to offer guidelines on training standards and standards in certification as required by law. The group met for the first time last week.

The NIST will also be establishing a second commission, which is being referred to as a "forensic-science standards board." This group will offer recommendations on which standards should be set for criminal laboratories. Over the past few years, several studies which have been done on forensic practices in this country have produced critical results. In 2009, the National Research Council (NRC) announced its findings on forensic methods, concluding that almost every analytical testing technique was unreliable and contained too many variables. The study said the only reliable testing technique was DNA evidence. The goal is to create standards that will be followed by federal, state and local laboratories. Currently, there are too many differences each organization’s "standard testing" procedures, even in DNA testing. Other test reliabilities have also been questioned in past studies. In 2003, the NRC found that polygraph tests are too unreliable, but, a decade later, many law enforcement agencies still rely on those tests. Another study done in 2011 revealed that one in every 1,000 fingerprints was incorrectly matched and actual matches were missed in almost 10 percent of the examinations. If you’ve been arrested and charged with a criminal offense, you need to contact an experienced Cook County criminal defense attorney to ensure your rights in the courtroom are protected.

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Study Slams Federal Prosecutors for Intimidating Defendants into Taking Plea Bargains

 Posted on January 31, 2014 in Criminal Defense

NPR recently reported on a new study that says the U.S. Justice Dept. regularly intimidates defendants who have been charged with federal drug offenses with stiff sentences prison sentences, or piling on additional charges, in order to pressure those defendants to plead guilty.

The study was conducted by Human Rights Watch, who issued their findings in a report, "An Offer You Can’t Refuse: How US Federal Prosecutors Force Drug Defendants to Plead Guilty." The report gives details about federal prosecutors charge defendants with crimes that carry severe mandatory prison sentences if they are found guilty – the group refers to the severity of the sentences as "draconian" in their report. In attempts at plea-bargaining, the federal prosecutors then offer much lighter sentences in exchange for guilty pleas.

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Niles, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

 Posted on January 30, 2014 in Uncategorized

Niles, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.    DUI’s in Niles, Illinois can be charged as Misdemeanors or Felonies. We will begin with an examination of Misdemeanor DUI’s in , Illinois.

Misdemeanor DUI’s in Illinois

Niles DUI Defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt handles many misdemeanor DUI cases in Niles, Illinois. The minimum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Niles, Illinois is a period of twelve months supervision with alcohol education classes. The maximum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Illinois is 364 days in the Cook County Department of Corrections. If you plea or are found guilty after a trial on misdemeanor DUI charges in Illinois, many factors will be considered in determining your sentence. Some of these factors include: number of prior DUI and alcohol related offenses on your record, your criminal history, age, work status, citizenship status and any mitigating circumstances arising out of your case or background. There are also many issues that Niles, Illinois DUI defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt can raise on your behalf should you decide to dispute the charges against you. Often times, what may seem like insurmountable evidence against you can be overcome by your DUI defense attorney. Some areas we often challenge include:  

• · Unlawful Traffic Stop.

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Lake County, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

 Posted on January 30, 2014 in Uncategorized

Lake County, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.           DUI’s in Lake County, Illinois can be charged as Misdemeanors or Felonies. We will begin with an examination of Misdemeanor DUI’s in , Illinois.

Misdemeanor DUI’s in Illinois

Lake County DUI Defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt handles many misdemeanor DUI cases in Lake County, Illinois. The minimum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Lake County, Illinois is a period of twelve months supervision with alcohol education classes. The maximum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Illinois is 364 days in the Lake County Department of Corrections. If you plea or are found guilty after a trial on misdemeanor DUI charges in Illinois, many factors will be considered in determining your sentence. Some of these factors include: number of prior DUI and alcohol related offenses on your record, your criminal history, age, work status, citizenship status and any mitigating circumstances arising out of your case or background. There are also many issues that Lake County, Illinois DUI defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt can raise on your behalf should you decide to dispute the charges against you. Often times, what may seem like insurmountable evidence against you can be overcome by your DUI defense attorney. Some areas we often challenge include:  

• · Unlawful Traffic Stop.

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Maywood, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

 Posted on January 30, 2014 in Uncategorized

Maywood, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois. DUI’s in Maywood, Illinois can be charged as Misdemeanors or Felonies. We will begin with an examination of Misdemeanor DUI’s in , Illinois.

Misdemeanor DUI’s in Illinois

Maywood DUI Defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt handles many misdemeanor DUI cases in Maywood, Illinois. The minimum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Maywood, Illinois is a period of twelve months supervision with alcohol education classes. The maximum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Illinois is 364 days in the Cook County Department of Corrections. If you plea or are found guilty after a trial on misdemeanor DUI charges in Illinois, many factors will be considered in determining your sentence. Some of these factors include: number of prior DUI and alcohol related offenses on your record, your criminal history, age, work status, citizenship status and any mitigating circumstances arising out of your case or background. There are also many issues that Maywood, Illinois DUI defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt can raise on your behalf should you decide to dispute the charges against you. Often times, what may seem like insurmountable evidence against you can be overcome by your DUI defense attorney. Some areas we often challenge include:  

• Unlawful Traffic Stop.

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Rolling Meadows, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

 Posted on January 30, 2014 in Uncategorized

Rolling Meadows, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.        DUI’s in Rolling Meadows, Illinois can be charged as Misdemeanors or Felonies. We will begin with an examination of Misdemeanor DUI’s in , Illinois.

Misdemeanor DUI’s in Illinois

Rolling Meadows DUI Defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt handles many misdemeanor DUI cases in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. The minimum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Rolling Meadows, Illinois is a period of twelve months supervision with alcohol education classes. The maximum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Illinois is 364 days in the Cook County Department of Corrections. If you plea or are found guilty after a trial on misdemeanor DUI charges in Illinois, many factors will be considered in determining your sentence. Some of these factors include: number of prior DUI and alcohol related offenses on your record, your criminal history, age, work status, citizenship status and any mitigating circumstances arising out of your case or background. There are also many issues that Rolling Meadows, Illinois DUI defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt can raise on your behalf should you decide to dispute the charges against you. Often times, what may seem like insurmountable evidence against you can be overcome by your DUI defense attorney. Some areas we often challenge include:  

• · Unlawful Traffic Stop.

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Skokie, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.

 Posted on January 30, 2014 in Uncategorized

Skokie, Illinois DUI Defense Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines the offense of DUI and its penalties under the laws of the State of Illinois.          DUI’s in Skokie, Illinois can be charged as Misdemeanors or Felonies. We will begin with an examination of Misdemeanor DUI’s in , Illinois.

Misdemeanor DUI’s in Illinois

Skokie DUI Defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt handles many misdemeanor DUI cases in Skokie, Illinois. The minimum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Skokie, Illinois is a period of twelve months supervision with alcohol education classes. The maximum penalty on a misdemeanor DUI in Illinois is 364 days in the Cook County Department of Corrections. If you plea or are found guilty after a trial on misdemeanor DUI charges in Illinois, many factors will be considered in determining your sentence. Some of these factors include: number of prior DUI and alcohol related offenses on your record, your criminal history, age, work status, citizenship status and any mitigating circumstances arising out of your case or background. There are also many issues that Skokie, Illinois DUI defense attorney Matthew R. Gebhardt can raise on your behalf should you decide to dispute the charges against you. Often times, what may seem like insurmountable evidence against you can be overcome by your DUI defense attorney. Some areas we often challenge include:  

• · Unlawful Traffic Stop.

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Northbrook, Illinois Driver’s License Reinstatement Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines driver’s license reinstatement in Northbrook, Illinois.

 Posted on January 30, 2014 in Uncategorized

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Rolling Meadows, Illinois Driver’s License Reinstatement Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines driver’s license reinstatement in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

 Posted on January 30, 2014 in Uncategorized

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Cook County, Illinois Driver’s License Reinstatement Lawyer Matthew R. Gebhardt examines driver’s license reinstatement in Cook County, Illinois.

 Posted on January 30, 2014 in Uncategorized

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