First Ammendment
Don't Hide
Something as simple as a traffic ticket can land you in jail if you fail to appear in court. Arrests that stem from failures to appear in court typically come from
bench warrants. Bench warrants are issued by judges. Bench warrants allow officers to arrest you upon contact. It is used to make sure you appear in court. Be careful. If a bench warrant is issued for your arrest, it can be unlikely that you will be released on bail because you are considered a flight risk.
Michigan's Sex Offender Registry to Change
Did you know Michigan's sex offender registry law was ruled unconstitutional in August 2016? Michigan's Sex Offender Registry is a database containing the
names, addresses, and offense(s) of everyone in Michigan convicted of certain sexual offenses. This information is made available to the public. Offenders are classified into one of three "tiers," which is determined by the offense or the number of offenses. The tier determines how long a person remains in the registry.
Protecting Your Rights - Know The Rules Before You Fish
July, 2019 - Protecting your rights never takes a vacation, even during the middle of a Michigan summer. Here at the Law Office of John Freeman, summer fishing is a part of the norm. Whether it is an afternoon trolling night-crawlers on the St. Clair River for Walleye, using wax worms to clobber monster Bluegill in Ohio, heading to Florida in search of salt-water sail fish, or remembering a giant lake trout caught through the ice in January, it is always important to be aware of your rights and to protect them.
Be Careful: Social Media Can Cause Trouble
As technology advances, more social media platforms are created. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat are just a few of the platforms that most
people are using. You use them to post pictures and statuses about your life while also being able to comment on the posts of others. Be careful what you post, especially if it contains illegal activity. Law enforcement agencies are using social media to track down and identify criminals.
Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA)
Some criminal matters arise out of youthful mistakes. In Michigan, you will be charged as an adult for crimes committed at age 17 and older. Michigan's
legislature recognizes the underdeveloped youthful brain and has offered an approach to help young offenders avoid having a criminal record through the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA).
Can the Government Steal Your Property?
In 2017, more than 700 people -11% of all civil forfeitures- had property forfeited to Michigan law enforcement agencies without being charged with a crime. More than 200 defendants were charged and found not guilty, but the government still kept their assets. Some consider such government overreach a form of stealing.
The Police and You: Constitutional Rights
Police & You - Dear Police: Hands Off My Property!
Protecting Your Rights - Know the Rules Before You Hunt
For many people, Protecting Your Rights means the Right to Hunt. With deer season right around the corner, the Michigan Natural Resources Commission (NRC) has approved a set of regulations targeting the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD is a neurological disease that effects deer, elk, and moose. The disease produces small lesions on the animal's brain and results in trembling, drooling, extreme weight loss, abnormal behavior, and eventually death.
