Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most common criminal charges in Washington. For many people, a DUI arrest is their first experience with the criminal justice system. Understandably, the biggest question defendants ask is: What is the most common sentence for a first DUI in Washington? While the exact outcome depends on […]

A DUI in Washington is a serious criminal charge with lasting consequences. However, not every DUI charge ends in a conviction for driving under the influence. Depending on the facts, your history, and the prosecutor’s discretion, a DUI may sometimes be reduced to a lesser charge. In Tacoma, Pierce County, and across Washington State, the […]

Driving under the influence (DUI) in Washington is a serious criminal charge under RCW 46.61.502. Most DUI arrests in Washington are charged as gross misdemeanors, but under certain circumstances a DUI can be elevated to a felony. Whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or felony DUI depends on your prior record and the details […]

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 […]

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 […]