Chris Zachar
Cell Phone Forensics: Location Data
Forensic location data from cell phones, tablets, and even smart watches is becoming more and more common in criminal prosecutions....
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Chris Zachar
- Sep 2, 2019
- 4 min
How the police can legally steal from you: Civil asset forfeitures
It is fairly common to get a new criminal case, and in the weeks that follow for a client to get served with a lawsuit seeking to seize...
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Chris Zachar
- Jul 3, 2019
- 4 min
WHY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SPENDS MONEY ON BILLBOARDS AND CARTOONS BUT NOT REHAB AND PROBATION
I was driving down South Avenue in La Crosse this morning when a billboard caught my eye: it advised me to know the consequences of...
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Chris Zachar
- Jul 2, 2019
- 2 min
What does it mean when you're charged as a "Repeater?"
Almost every week I walk into court with a client who is shocked by language on a criminal complaint charging them as a “repeater.” “But...
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Chris Zachar
- May 18, 2019
- 2 min
A quick guide to subpoenas in criminal cases
What are they? A subpoena is a court order requiring the appearance of a witness (subpoena and certificate of appearance), or the...
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Chris Zachar
- May 18, 2019
- 5 min
What goes into trial preparation?
We’re currently preparing a half dozen or so trials for the summer, so I thought it would make sense to discuss a little bit of what goes...
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Chris Zachar
- May 3, 2019
- 1 min
Taking a moment to brag
Lawyers love to brag about themselves. Successful cases, semi-successful cases, and even cases that weren’t actually successful often...
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Chris Zachar
- Feb 24, 2019
- 5 min
What is a conflict of interest?
The number one reason we turn prospective clients away is due to conflict of interest. And the clear majority of those clients ask us...
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Chris Zachar
- Feb 17, 2019
- 4 min
How Wisconsin's insane concept of supervision drives our insane belief in mass incarceration
Last week the Columbia University Justice Lab released a report detailing many of Wisconsin’s most prominent failures in sentencing and...
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Chris Zachar
- Feb 7, 2019
- 4 min
A New Approach to Teenage 'Sexting' Prosecutions
In recent years, prosecutors across the State have begun charging teens who exchange nude selfies with possession, or even the creation...
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Chris Zachar
- Dec 23, 2018
- 3 min
Five TV shows that get the criminal justice system right
I’ll be the first to tell anyone who wants to listen that my job is not like how it is portrayed on television. All too often I see...
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Chris Zachar
- Dec 23, 2018
- 7 min
Don't fall for fake news from the La Crosse Police Department
Over the past few years, the La Crosse Police Department has become increasingly vocal over what it deems a “revolving door” criminal...
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Chris Zachar
- Oct 27, 2018
- 12 min
Wisconsin's Dumb Marijuana Laws
Perhaps the oldest staple in the war on drugs is a national prohibition on the possession of marijuana. I grew up with a vilified image...
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Chris Zachar
- Oct 21, 2018
- 5 min
So you want a new judge or a change of venue?
One of the most frequent questions we get from our clients is whether they can get a different judge or a change of venue. The question...
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Chris Zachar
- Sep 29, 2018
- 3 min
A Short Primer on Self-Defense
Much of our practice is devoted to defending people accused of violent crimes and in many of those cases, we defend a client who was...
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Chris Zachar
- Sep 29, 2018
- 5 min
The Public Defender Crisis in Wisconsin
Public Defenders are some of the most dedicated, experienced and highly-skilled attorneys out there. Many people contact me because they...
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Chris Zachar
- Sep 29, 2018
- 5 min
A Quick Guide to Anonymous Tips, Confidential Informants, and Jailhouse Snitches
Many of our cases originate from an anonymous call, information provided by a police informant, or allegations from a jailhouse snitch....
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Chris Zachar
- Jul 29, 2018
- 5 min
When do you really need a lawyer?
I get a lot of calls from prospective clients asking whether I think they really need a lawyer to help them with a traffic ticket, police...
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Chris Zachar
- Jun 23, 2018
- 5 min
Using Sexual Risk Assessments to keep clients out of prison
Sexual assault prosecutions are incredibly high-stakes ordeal for any defendant. Many people are sentenced to prison following conviction...
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Chris Zachar
- Jun 23, 2018
- 6 min
When do the police have to read you your rights?
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an...
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