Many people believe domestic violence charges only apply when someone is physically hurt. In Washington State, that is not the case. Domestic violence is not a single offense. Instead, it is a legal label attached to certain crimes when they involve an intimate partner, family member, or household member, according to RCW 10.99.020(4). This means […]

Anyone with a criminal record may be worried about an employer learning of that record and possibly terminating their employment because of it. If you were convicted of driving under the influence long ago or arrested for a DUI recently, will your employer find out? Employers sometimes learn about DUI arrests through word of mouth […]

Assault Charges in Washington: What You Need to Know about Fear (Apprehension) In Washington, you can be convicted of assault even if no one is touched or physically hurt. Fear alone — if proven beyond a reasonable doubt — can be enough for the State to win a conviction. This makes assault one of the […]

Being arrested for driving under the influence may have more immediate effects on your life than you anticipated. You might even temporarily lose your license before going to court to face DUI charges in Washington, unless you act quickly enough to schedule a hearing with the Department of Licensing (DOL), and that hearing goes in […]

Domestic violence isn’t one specific charge in Washington, but rather specific criminal conduct against an intimate partner or family or household member, according to RCW 10.99.020(4). Sometimes, these offenses are misdemeanors or gross misdemeanors, while other times, domestic violence offenses are charged as felonies. One of the most common domestic violence offenses in Washington is […]

If you are charged with assault against an intimate partner or household or family member, that is a domestic violence offense. Domestic violence is taken very seriously in Washington, and judges may issue no-contact orders before a defendant has even been convicted of a crime. A no-contact order may be issued and in effect while […]

Once you have been arrested on allegations of domestic violence, your life has already been upended from the normal.  If you make bail and can go free while you await trial, you may still face restrictions on what you can do and where you can go, which includes restrictions against talking to the alleged victim. […]

Finding out that you have an outstanding warrant can be scary.  Your first reaction might be to ignore it and hope you don’t get arrested, but that can lead to additional hassle, encounters with the police, and the need to pay bail.  A lawyer may be able to handle the situation for you. Lawyers can […]

Refusing Field Sobriety Tests in a Tacoma DUI Case: What Courts Can and Cannot Use Against You When you’re facing a DUI charge, the consequences extend beyond the courtroom. Your rights, your record, and your future are on the line. In some cases, what you choose not to do—such as refusing a field sobriety test—can […]

Felons need Real IDs as much as anyone else if they plan to fly anywhere in the United States. But will their criminal record stop them from obtaining this documentation? Or are they just as eligible for a Real ID as anyone else? Felons who are Washington residents and can produce the required documents can […]