Overall, crime rates have declined in the United States during the Coronavirus shutdown. As social distancing has become the norm and the economy has been halted, there are fewer opportunities to commit a crime. However, domestic abuse and public nuisance charges have increased in Arizona. What...
Even though it is dangerous and illegal, street racing activity is growing nationwide—especially in Arizona. In fact, Arizona ranks second out of all states for drivers with illegal street racing violations. The Phoenix Police Department reports that street racing incidents jumped from 388 in 2019...
People serving time in prison for committing a crime may be eligible for parole under certain circumstances. Parole provides inmates an opportunity to finish their sentences outside of prison. However, to stay on parole, they must abide by a specific set of conditions and rules....
Every crime in Arizona has a penalty, and usually, the penalties are very specific. For example, the penalty for first degree murder is either life in prison or capital punishment. However, there are some crimes where the penalty may change, increase, or decrease, depending on...
Driving under the influence (DUI) charges usually involve alcohol or illicit drugs. However, in Arizona, a person can also receive a DUI for driving under the influence of prescription medications, including medications that you legally have a prescription for. If your medication instructions say not...
With two major airports in the area—Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport—planes in the skies above Phoenix and Chandler are a regular sight. Although airplanes normally fly a great distance above you, their pilots can be affected by certain things on the...
It usually shocks people involved in Phoenix road rage incidents when they get arrested and face criminal charges. “Is road rage illegal?” they’ll ask. In Arizona, there is no specific charge for road rage. However, a driver’s actions during a road rage incident—such as reckless...
In the state of Arizona, people working with children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups need to obtain a fingerprint clearance card before they can be offered employment. They must also keep their clearance card in good standing throughout the length of their employment. However, a...
Most people know that entering the home of a person they do not know without their permission is a crime. However, did you know that stepping onto their property without their knowledge can also get you into legal trouble? Arizona takes trespassing very seriously, and...
Todd Coolidge, the lead criminal defense attorney at Coolidge Law Firm, has represented many homicide cases in Arizona. His experience in the courtroom and his vast knowledge of the subtleties of law mean his clients trust him to handle their case. In our previous blog...