Criminal Law
| Violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act |
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| The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act prohibits misbranding and adulterating food and drugs that circulate within interstate commerce. The Act was first enacted in 1906. Numerous parties may be charged with violating the Act.
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| PAROLE |
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| Parole is the early release of a prisoner from incarceration. Parole is discretionary and is usually subject to certain conditions. Parole is not a commutation or a change in a prisoner's sentence. It is also not an act of clemency. More... |
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| Bail or Jail |
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| After a defendant is arrested, he or she is required to appear before a judge or magistrate. At this time, the defendant may request or a judge may set bail for the defendant's release. Bail is cash or a cash equivalent that is given to the court to ensure that he or she will appear in court when ordered. If the defendant appears when he or she was ordered to, bail is refunded. However, if he or she fails to appear, the court keeps the bail and issues a warrant for his or her arrest.
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| CONFESSIONS - WAIVER OF RIGHTS |
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| A confession must be voluntary in order to be admitted into evidence in a criminal proceeding. When a person makes a confession, he or she is waiving his or her right against self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The person may also be waiving his or her right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
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| SENTENCING HEARINGS |
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| When a defendant is accused of a criminal offense and the defendant pleads not guilty to the offense, the defendant's trial may involve a two-stage process, depending upon whether the defendant is tried by a jury or a trial judge. The two-stage process involves the guilt or innocence stage of the trial and the punishment stage of the trial. More... |
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