Hit and Run
Failure to stop at the scene of an accident, better known as hit and run, is a traffic criminal offense in all Michigan courtrooms. The penalties for this charge depend on the injury or damage that has happened due to the accident. Anytime you have reason to know you were in an accident, you must […]
Federal Criminal Sexual Conduct
Facing an allegation of Federal Criminal Sexual Conduct charges, molestation of a child, or possession of distribution of child pornography. If you are being charged by Uncle Sam for Federal Criminal Sexual Conduct charges, you should be very scared. The penalties for these kinds of crimes are harsh and carry mandatory minimum prison sentences. Punishments for Federal […]
Bail Bonds
In Michigan, there are four different types of bail bonds. During a criminal case, the defendant will have to post some kind of bond at their arraignment. In other situations, the defendant will be required to post a bond at the jail. After the defendant does this, they will be released. The best bond a […]
What Factors Do Judges Consider In Sentencing?
A judge will want to see the defendant express remorse for the criminal behavior they are convicted of. Prior criminal history will be something a judge will consider regarding sentencing. The judge will also consider if you have pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor crime. If you have issues with drug addictions, what steps […]
Michigan’s Zero Tolerance Underage Drinking Law
If you are under the age of 21 and are drinking and driving, you need to be aware of Michigan’s zero-tolerance law for underage DUI. The legal drinking age in Michigan is 21 years old, but we all know that many people drink alcohol under the age of 21. Michigan’s zero-tolerance law for underage DUI […]
How To Get Your Suspended License Back
Just about everyone in West Michigan needs to have a car or truck for transportation. If you have a suspended license, you are not allowed to legally drive on West Michigan roads. This is why we recommend retaining The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan to represent you if you are trying to get back […]
Michigan Cyberbullying Law
Last December, Gov. Rick Snyder signed the Michigan Cyberbullying Law that made it a misdemeanor crime to be cyberbullying in Michigan. The Michigan Cyberbullying Law that made cyberbullying in Michigan a crime was created by Rep. Pete Lucido. He is a Republican from Shelby Township. The bill was Public Act 457 of 2018. It became […]
Impaired Driving Safety Commission
The Michigan legislature was very busy in 2016. During 2016, the Michigan legislature formed the Impaired Driving Safety Commission. This new body was created in the state police department. The goal if this new body was to do research and then decide if there should be a THC threshold. When it comes to drunk driving […]
Cannabidiol
If you follow the news, you will agree that Cannabidiol (“CBD”) has been all on tv and the radio a lot. CBD is found in the cannabis plant. CBD does not have a psychoactive effect. To put it another way, Cannabidiol won’t get you high or buzzed. CBD can be found in industrial hemp. Industrial hemp contains […]
Recreational Marijuana Laws In Michigan: 5 Key Points
In December of 2018, the great state of Michigan became the tenth state in the United States to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana. Michigan’s New Recreational Marijuana Law: 5 Key Points will give you some key points you need to remember from this new law. Voter turn out was huge in November of 2018. The voters […]
What Happens To My CDL If I Get A DUI?
If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) a Michigan drunk driving conviction will have tough consequences regarding your CDL driving privileges. How can you tell what will be the consequences? The answer of that question will depend on what your prior criminal record is. To be more exact, prior OWI/DUI/Drunk Driving convictions. The exact nature of […]
How To Avoid Jail
We get several calls a week from people looking for a free consultation, generally they simply want to know how to avoid jail. For most people, going to jail is one of their top fears. You’re possibly facing separation from your family, losing your job, and going to a place nobody wants to be. If […]
Am I Going To Prison?
Attorney Shawn James Haff of The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan has been asked by his clients before, “Am I going to Prison?” This is a complicated question to answer that requires the attorney to know a lot of information that might not be available at the moment the question is asked. The […]
Famous Criminal Law Cases
Criminal law cases are based on a body of rules that proclaim what is unacceptable conduct to our society. Conduct that harms, threatens or puts others at risk are examples of conduct that these rules are designed to protect. The United States of America has had some of the most disturbing criminal cases in the […]
SORA: Everything You Need To Know
In a stunning move that will have a huge impact on criminal law in Michigan, a federal district court ordered Michigan lawmakers 90 days to update and make changes to the sex offender registry law known as SORA. SORA was ruled unconstitutional by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court refused to […]
Michigan Gun Laws
If there is one thing that we can all agree on is that gun laws in Michigan are confusing. Here is just a taste of it: schools are designed as a weapons-free zone by state law so, evidently, guns are prohibited. Well, not so fast because according to the law, those with a license that […]
What Does A Criminal Defense Lawyer Do?
Criminal defense lawyers work hard every day to get their clients the best results possible. We feel a deep sense of pride when we catch the government breaking the rules and holing them accountable for it. The United States Constitution provides us with certain fundamental rights. When the government doesn’t follow the rules, we will […]
Health Care Fraud
If you live in West Michigan or Grand Rapids, you know how much health care costs are based on your trip to a hospital or doctor’s office. The 2020 Presidential campaign will be filled with promises about lowering the cost of health care. Clearly, getting quality health care service, or any other type of professional […]
Tax Evasion
Crimes that deal with the tax code often deal with Tax evasion. This offense is typically one that deals with a person or company not reporting all of their income. Tax evasion can also deal with a company or person claiming too many deductions or not paying payroll taxes. Local, state and federal law enforcement […]
Building A Strong Defense
The office of the prosecutor is a team of highly skilled and talented experts who focus their entire day looking to get criminal convictions against those they believe have broken the law. Do you want to face these experts without having Shawn by your side? Most people facing criminal charges feel lost and stressed out […]