According to the United States Department of Justice, 1.6 million violent crimes were committed throughout the country in 2020. This was a decline—there were 2 million such crimes the year before. While there has been some improvement in levels of crime, that still leaves many individuals who have been victimized to deal with the trauma associated with those crimes. And that doesn’t include the victim’s loved ones and family members who may also suffer as a result.

That begs the question: What rights do violent crime victims have within the justice system?

Continue reading “What Rights Do You Have as a Victim of a Violent Crime?” →

Given that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, AAA wants motorists to be aware that, despite perceptions to the contrary, cellphones are not to blame for many of the fatal crashes involving a distracted driver. This is not to say that cellphones are not a significant and potentially deadly distraction, but many other distractions are also cause for concern.

According to the latest federal crash data, confirmed smartphone use accounts for about 12 percent of all fatal crashes involving a distracted driver. Although it is widely accepted that distracted driving crashes caused by cellphone use are highly underreported, the data clearly indicates there are many other distractions that warrant our attention as well.

Continue reading “Distracted Driving Awareness Month–It’s Not the Phone Alone” →

“Murder” in the metaverse isn’t a 25-to-life prison sentence — or even a felony — but it could be a crime, some law experts believe.

The Sun spoke to two lawyers, who have written about crime in the metaverse, and a former Manhattan prosecutor turned law professor about violence in the virtual world and if they can be prosecuted.

Continue reading “Metaverse experts reveal if you can murder in VR – and whether you can be punished” →

Hyde County Sheriff Mike Volek was the first responding officer on the scene the night that South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg struck and killed Joe Boever on September 12, 2020.

Volek and his actions that night were central components in the investigation into Ravnsborg, from his failure to find Boever’s body in the ditch that night despite the presence of a still lit flashlight visible on the shoulder that he told investigators he did not examine, to loaning his personal vehicle to Ravnsborg to drive home that night after the crash.

Continue reading “What’s it take to be a South Dakota Sheriff?” →

After a century-long effort, lynching is now considered a federal hate crime. The Emmett Till Antilynching Act — signed into law by President Biden this week — is meant to hold people convicted of hate crimes accountable. But legal experts warn that the law may not be as effective as intended.

Continue reading “Experts warn the new anti-lynching law may not actually help prevent hate crimes” →

When you are charged with a federal crime, it is important to hire the right lawyer. There are many types of lawyers who specialize in different areas of law, and not all of them will be appropriate for your case. In this article, we will discuss the different types of lawyers you should consider hiring when facing federal criminal charges. We will also talk about the benefits and drawbacks of each type of lawyer. So, whether you are considering hiring a public defender or private attorney, make sure to read this article.

Continue reading “What Type Of Lawyer Should You Hire When Facing Federal Criminal Charges?” →

A Florida-based software company will help South Dakota’s cannabis industry and its regulators monitor the flow of marijuana in the state’s legal cannabis market. Continue reading “SD picks seed-to-sale tracker to monitor growth, sales of legal cannabis” →