Self-defense as a general defense against prosecution varies widely from state to state. And even when states might recognize the same general principles, they still have their own unique code of laws and specific elements necessary to qualify for a self-defense argument. When researching legal principles like self-defense, you’ll often come across different doctrines, broad theories […]
Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Beginning this month, Tennessee has added a list of new crimes that apply to its “Truth In Sentencing” time-served requirements. “Truth In Sentencing” started as a general trend among many states in the 90s in response to federal grant incentives and backlash from the potential for early release of certain criminal offenders. While the details […]
Prior to 2022, TCA § 40-25-105 did not address restitution paid to the victim of a crime in its ordered schedule of payments from a convicted defendant. HB 870/SB 893 sought to change this. Passed in 2021, and in effect as of January 1, 2022, § 40-25-105(a) now places a victim’s right to restitution as […]
Zack England is honored to be a member of the 2022 Tennessee Bar Association’s Leadership Law Program. The program is in its 19th year and has had over 500 graduates. Members are nominated by alumni of the program and then chosen over a rigorous selection process. TBALL is proud to be comprised of a diverse alumnus […]
The vast majority of people have some level of experience with selling their homes or purchasing a new home. However, there are many moving parts that go into those pesky sales contracts. While cumbersome, those contracts for the sale of real estate have some minimally specific requirements due to statutes here in Tennessee and due […]
When we talk about charges like theft/robbery and carjacking/joyriding, we often use terms interchangeably. However, the terms used to define each charge denote specific elements of each individual crime. You can read here in our previous post how robbery refers to the general taking of property through the use of violence or intimidation. Carjacking TN Code § […]
Robbery is the 2nd most common violent crime in Chattanooga specifically, and Tennessee in large. While similar to property crimes and lesser included offenses like theft, robbery is actually a personal crime because it refers to the specific type of theft that occurs during a violent, personal interaction. And depending on the severity of the […]
Diversions are programs offered in the state of Tennessee, through which certain 1st-time offenders might be eligible to avoid serving time and having a criminal record. Diversions are periods of probation during which the general prosecution of your case or your sentence is deferred. During this probation, you must follow certain conditions, and if you […]
What is Theft in Tennessee? Theft is the most common property crime in the city of Chattanooga, and the United States in large. Theft is a broad statutory term that covers many different kinds of specific crimes that involve stealing something from someone or an entity. Depending on where you are, and the circumstances […]
In Tennessee, Reckless Endangerment is a fairly broad statutory term that could be used to describe various situations. Because of this broad definition, you could also be charged with Reckless Endangerment on top of other more specific crimes, if those crimes endangered other people around you, as described in TCA § 39-13-103. In Chattanooga and […]