Disagreements are inevitable in any relationship. However, if those disagreements spiral out of control, the court might intervene. Consequently, the aggressive party may be issued with a protective order. An order of protection simply restricts your interaction with...
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I’ve been served with a protective order. What now?
Two is company and three is a crowd. But when arguments within the home escalate to the point of violence or threat of violence, the authorities might get involved. And one of the first steps the court will take in a domestic violence situation is to issue a...
What should you know about financial aid and criminal charges?
Criminal charges can impact a student's eligibility for federal financial aid, depending on the nature and severity of the charges. While not all criminal charges will necessarily affect federal financial aid, certain types of convictions can have a significant...
Can you face assault charges when no one got hurt?
There are many situations in which people lose their calm and end up engaging in inappropriate acts of physical aggression. Some of those reasons are legal, but many of the most common explanations for interpersonal violence can lead to criminal charges. The situation...
3 times police don’t need a warrant
Many people assume that police officers always need a warrant if they conduct a search, seize property or arrest someone. While it’s true that officers need warrants in many cases, there are some in which they don’t. Understanding a bit about this can help people who...
Do you have a duty to retreat before acting to defend yourself?
Unless you have attended self-defense training, it is hard to predict how you will react when facing a threat. When someone brandishes a weapon, hits you or verbally threatens you, you may freeze. Some people's first response is to try to leave the situation, while...
Restrictions to gun rights in South Dakota
In some ways, South Dakota has very loose gun laws. For instance, you don’t need to have a permit in order to buy a gun from another person. You also don’t have to go through a background check or even register the firearm. Other states will require all of this for...
Can you end a protective order that limits your freedom?
A protective order or protection order in South Dakota is the same thing as what people refer to as a restraining order in other states. Someone who has experienced domestic violence, intimate abuse or stalking can ask the courts to grant them a protective order. This...
What every defendant should know about their Miranda rights
Your Miranda rights include two of the most valuable protections when in the custody of law enforcement agents. Your right to remain silent helps protect you from aggressive interrogation efforts. When you don't speak, you don't have to worry about falling victim to...
Can you be charged for possessing a stolen firearm?
There has been a recent spate of crime in your area. Multiple burglaries and armed robberies have occurred in recent months, and you’re concerned for the safety of your family. You’ve decided to purchase a firearm just in case you ever need to protect yourself. The...