Chris ZacharDec 6, 20194 minCell Phone Forensics: Location DataForensic location data from cell phones, tablets, and even smart watches is becoming more and more common in criminal prosecutions. Autho...
Chris ZacharSep 2, 20194 minHow the police can legally steal from you: Civil asset forfeituresIt 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 m...
Chris ZacharJul 3, 20194 minWHY THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SPENDS MONEY ON BILLBOARDS AND CARTOONS BUT NOT REHAB AND PROBATIONI was driving down South Avenue in La Crosse this morning when a billboard caught my eye: it advised me to know the consequences of opiat...
Chris ZacharJul 2, 20192 minWhat 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 ...
Chris ZacharMay 18, 20192 minA quick guide to subpoenas in criminal casesWhat are they? A subpoena is a court order requiring the appearance of a witness (subpoena and certificate of appearance), or the product...
Chris ZacharMay 18, 20195 minWhat 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...
Chris ZacharMay 3, 20191 minTaking a moment to bragLawyers love to brag about themselves. Successful cases, semi-successful cases, and even cases that weren’t actually successful often app...
Chris ZacharFeb 24, 20195 minWhat 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 “wh...
Chris ZacharFeb 17, 20194 minHow Wisconsin's insane concept of supervision drives our insane belief in mass incarcerationLast week the Columbia University Justice Lab released a report detailing many of Wisconsin’s most prominent failures in sentencing and c...
Chris ZacharFeb 7, 20194 minA New Approach to Teenage 'Sexting' ProsecutionsIn recent years, prosecutors across the State have begun charging teens who exchange nude selfies with possession, or even the creation o...
Chris ZacharDec 23, 20183 minFive TV shows that get the criminal justice system rightI’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 show...
Chris ZacharDec 23, 20187 minDon't fall for fake news from the La Crosse Police DepartmentOver the past few years, the La Crosse Police Department has become increasingly vocal over what it deems a “revolving door” criminal jus...
Chris ZacharOct 27, 201812 minWisconsin's Dumb Marijuana LawsPerhaps the oldest staple in the war on drugs is a national prohibition on the possession of marijuana. I grew up with a vilified image ...
Chris ZacharOct 21, 20185 minSo 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 i...
Chris ZacharSep 29, 20183 minA Short Primer on Self-DefenseMuch of our practice is devoted to defending people accused of violent crimes and in many of those cases, we defend a client who was acti...
Chris ZacharSep 29, 20185 minThe Public Defender Crisis in WisconsinPublic Defenders are some of the most dedicated, experienced and highly-skilled attorneys out there. Many people contact me because they ...
Chris ZacharSep 29, 20185 minA Quick Guide to Anonymous Tips, Confidential Informants, and Jailhouse SnitchesMany of our cases originate from an anonymous call, information provided by a police informant, or allegations from a jailhouse snitch. A...
Chris ZacharJul 29, 20185 minWhen 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...
Chris ZacharJun 23, 20185 minUsing Sexual Risk Assessments to keep clients out of prisonSexual assault prosecutions are incredibly high-stakes ordeal for any defendant. Many people are sentenced to prison following conviction...
Chris ZacharJun 23, 20186 minWhen 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 attorn...