VIOLATION OF A PROTECTIVE ORDER

A person commits the offense of violation of a protective order when the protective order has been issued on behalf of a protected person and when he or she commits an act of family violence, when he or she communicates directly with the protected person or a member of the protected person's family, when he or she goes near the protected person's residence or employment, or when he or she possesses a firearm.

Informants

An informant is an individual that provides law enforcement officers with information about an individual or a criminal activity. Informants may be sought out by law enforcement officers or may just be present at the time that a crime occurred. There are numerous types of informants.

Customs Fraud

What Constitutes Customs Fraud Fraud is defined as an intentional perversion of the truth to induce another individual into believing or doing something that they would not otherwise do. Fraud is an intentional crime.

Capital Punishment or the Death Penalty

In 2003, 65 inmates were executed by way of capital punishment or the death penalty. Capital punishment is punishment by death for capital crimes. This type of punishment is available in 38 states. Capital punishment is available for certain federal offenses.

WAIVER OF APPEAL

A defendant is entitled to waive his or her right to appeal his or her conviction by a trial court. However, the waiver must be knowingly and intelligently made by the defendant. The waiver may only be made after the defendant's right to appeal has accrued.