A criminal record is an official document that contains information about an individual’s criminal history, including arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences. In Washington State, a criminal record is created when a person is arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime. This information is recorded in various databases, including those maintained by the Washington State Patrol […]

In Tacoma, there are numerous assault crimes of varying degrees, and each offense requires the State to establish different elements. If the State fails to meet this burden, it should not be able to sustain a conviction. This was demonstrated in a recent opinion issued in a Washington assault case, in which the court reversed […]

Understanding Civil Protection Orders in Pierce County, WA: What You Need to Know Before You File If you’re considering seeking a civil protection order in Tacoma or elsewhere in Pierce County, the legal process can feel intimidating. At Smith & White, we understand how emotionally charged these situations are—and we’re here to guide you. Whether […]

When determining an appropriate sentence for a person convicted of an assault offense, the Washington courts will, among other things, calculate the person’s offender score. Numerous factors can impact the score, including whether the person has prior convictions for certain offenses. As discussed in a ruling recently issued in a Washington assault case, the court […]

In Washington, in order to convict a person of driving while under the influence of alcohol, the State must offer evidence sufficient to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. While the State can use circumstantial evidence to meet this burden, it cannot rely on speculative or misleading evidence, as discussed in a recent Washington DUI […]

In many instances in which the police suspect a motorist is operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, they will administer a breath test. Breath tests are only admissible if they are conducted in a certain manner, however. For example, they may be deemed invalid if there was a foreign substance in the […]

One of the core tenets of criminal procedure is that people accused of crimes have a right to question any witnesses who testify against them, pursuant to the confrontation clause. In practice, this means that statements that constitute hearsay are often inadmissible. The confrontation clause does not preclude all out-of-court statements, however, as shown in […]

What is bail, and why is it required in DUI cases? Bail is a sum of money or property given as a guarantee to the court that a defendant will appear at all scheduled court dates after being released from custody. In DUI (Driving Under the Influence) cases, bail is typically set to ensure that […]

What You Need to Know About No Contact Orders in Tacoma, WA Domestic Violence Cases If you’ve been arrested for domestic violence in Tacoma or Pierce County, a no contact order is likely one of the first things the court imposes—sometimes even before charges are filed. These orders are meant to protect alleged victims, but […]

While some people may think of assault as a relatively minor offense, the opposite is true. In fact, in many cases, people convicted of assault crimes face lengthy prison sentences. Intervening changes in the law may allow people sentenced to substantial prison terms to challenge their sentence, though, as demonstrated in a recent Washington assault […]