Most states have requirements that prosecutors must meet before convicting a defendant for a criminal offense, and Tennessee is no different. If you face criminal charges, working with an attorney who has a rich understanding of and deep experience with Tennessee criminal law is vital if you hope to have potential penalties reduced or dropped altogether. You can develop a better understanding of how to prepare a defense by understanding all of the conditions that prosecutors must meet. With that said, it is always best to have an attorney help you pinpoint precisely how to build and present your defense to be protected by the law.
Tennessee Criminal Law
According to Tennessee criminal law, no individual may be convicted for a criminal offense unless the following can be proven by the prosecution:
While vandalism usually does not warrant the same degree of punishment as other crimes, it is still important to understand what is at stake if you face vandalism charges. Vandalism is defined as the intentional destruction or harm to another person’s property. Therefore, if you face charges for something that you did unwittingly or accidentally, you could potentially build a strong defense. If you are ever accused of defacing property, you should seek the assistance of an experienced criminal defense lawyer to develop your case and protect your rights.
Tennessee Vandalism Laws
Vandalism laws vary from state to state, but one of the distinctions in Tennessee law is that depending on the value of the damage and the circumstances surrounding the crime, vandalism can be a felony offense. However, most of the time, vandalism is a misdemeanor. We gave a brief idea of what ‘damaging’ a person’s property could be defined as, but there are a few more ways to define intentional property damage:
The laws that determine police protocol when they are called to a domestic violence incident differ from state to state, and the procedure is particularly unique in Tennessee. It is worth understanding how police are told to act when they arrive on the scene and how this could affect your case if you are accused of domestic abuse. Most importantly, the consequences that you face as a result of domestic violence allegations can be severe. Therefore, it is crucial that you hire an experienced criminal defense attorney to make sure your rights were not violated during the arrest and help you determine the best strategy for defending against these charges.
Police Procedures for Domestic Abuse in Tennessee
When the police are called in for a domestic violence incident, they are highly encouraged to arrest the “primary aggressor.” If an officer thinks that he or she has probable cause to determine who may be the primary aggressor, it is a near certainty that an arrest will be made, regardless of the desires of the alleged victim. Police will also not assess the willingness of the alleged victim or other witnesses to testify in judicial proceedings.