Criminal Law
What Makes Domestic Abuse a Felony in Oklahoma?
Domestic Abuse Involves Family or Household Members Domestic abuse is a family and household problem that often follows a predictable pattern. Tensions build, then there is a blowup of some kind involving physical violence. Violent partners often apologize and promise that things will change. When things don’t change, partners can get locked in a cycle […] Read more »Oklahoma Felonious Assault Law Explained
Requires Intent to Commit Another Specific Felony In Oklahoma, felonious assault is defined as an assault with the intent to commit any felony except an assault with the intent to kill. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 681 Felonious assault occurs when a person commits an assault during the commission of another felony. Without specific intent […] Read more »How is Auto Theft Prosecuted in Oklahoma?
In Oklahoma, auto theft can be charged in several ways. Depending upon the circumstances, auto theft can be charged as auto larceny, carjacking, joyriding, or — under the Oklahoma motor vehicle code — the illegal possession of a motor vehicle. These statutes vary widely in terms of applicable circumstances and punishments. Auto Larceny In Oklahoma, […] Read more »What is False Declaration of Ownership in Oklahoma?
False Declaration of Ownership of a Vehicle Making a false declaration of ownership of a vehicle in Tulsa, Oklahoma is against the law. This is a type of fraud related to — but different from — auto theft. Oklahoma specifically prohibits the false declaration of ownership in a motor vehicle sold to a crusher as […] Read more »12 Types of Forgery in Oklahoma
Forgery Can Get You into Big Trouble in Oklahoma Forgery is more than just signing your parent’s name to a school permission slip that you had forgotten about. In Oklahoma, forgery in most cases is a felony. Forgery most often involves either making, altering or signing a document, either financial or otherwise, with the intent […] Read more »4 Degrees of Arson in Oklahoma
Arson in Oklahoma: Destructive and Dangerous In Oklahoma, arson is the act of deliberately and maliciously setting fire or the attempted setting of fire to property. Arson is a crime that can ruin people’s lives. It is destructive in the extreme, burning homes and other property, and sometimes killing animals and people. It is no […] Read more »Tulsa Municipal Jail Now Houses Overnight Inmates
The City of Tulsa ended a funding dispute with the county sherrif by opening a city jail. When the city jail exceeds capacity. the city now sends excess inmates 40 miles away, to a frequently overcrowded jail in Okmulgee County. Read more »What are the Penalties for Shoplifting in Oklahoma?
Shoplifting as Petit Larceny In Oklahoma, petit larceny is defined as all larceny that doesn’t qualify as grand larceny. Shoplifting could be charged as petit larceny or grand larceny, depending on the value of stolen merchandise. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1704 In order to understand what petit larceny is in Oklahoma, you must know […] Read more »Credit Card Crimes in Oklahoma
Credit Card Crimes are Taken Seriously in Oklahoma Oklahoma credit card fraud and theft crimes are codified under a group of statutes intended to prevent unauthorized possession and use of credit and debit cards. Most Oklahoma credit card crimes are charged under the Credit Card Crime Act of 1970. Oklahoma criminal law in some instances […] Read more »Bad Check Laws in Oklahoma
False or Bogus Check Laws Include Insufficient Funds In Oklahoma, writing a false, bogus, or bad check is against the law. Oklahoma law defines a bogus or bad check as any check, order, or electronic fund transfer which is not honored because of insufficient funds. Depending on the amount of the check and how many […] Read more »Oklahoma Trespassing Laws
Trespass in Oklahoma: Don’t Go There In Oklahoma, trespassing is a misdemeanor. Charges can result in fines and jail or prison time, depending on the nature of the alleged trespass. Traveling across yards, gardens, or fields with no trespassing signs posted can result in a $250 fine. Oklahoma law specifies acceptable language for no trespassing […] Read more »8 Malicious Acts Considered Vandalism in Oklahoma
Vandalism: Moving Beyond a Prank Oklahoma law addresses vandalism as malicious mischief. That does not mean all maliciously mischievous acts are vandalism. Oklahoma’s malicious mischief laws primarily address property damage. Although young people often engage in pranks, there can be a legal difference between a prank and acts that are done maliciously. Malice takes a […] Read more »What is Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon in Oklahoma?
Assault and Battery with a Deadly Weapon In Oklahoma, assault and battery with a deadly weapon is the intentional and wrongful use of a deadly weapon such as a firearm. It is a serious felony and is punishable by up to life in prison. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 652 In some cases, assault and […] Read more »Bill Would Abolish the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals (Part 1)
A bill in the 2018 Oklahoma legislature would let voters decide whether the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals should be abolished. Among 50 states, only Oklahoma and Texas have separate appeals courts for criminal and civil matters. Defense attorneys say the split has resulted in a prosecution friendly appeals court that is sometimes blithe indifference to its own precedents. Read more »Will Move to Abolish the Oklahoma Criminal Appeals Succeed? (Part 2)
A proposal to let voters decide the future of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals might face an uphill battle in the legislature. Oklahoma lawmakers have had a chilly relationship with the Oklahoma's other appeals court, which could take on the work of the criminal appeals court if voters approved the measure. Read more »Researchers Say Police Interrogation Technique Elicits False Confessions
Until recently, nearly every police agency in the nation relied on an interrogation practice called the “Reid Method.” This harsh method aims to squeeze confessions from suspects through stress, fatigue, intimidation and sympathy. A recent research paper by a University of Virginia Law student suggests the Reid Method is highly likely to elicit false confessions. […] Read more »Shaken Baby Syndrome Relies on Shaky Science
Recent research that reviewed thousands of child abuse cases where shaken baby syndrome was alleged revealed there is virtually no reason to presume abusive head trauma was to blame when no evidence beyond an infant's symptoms or brain injuries were present. Read more »Swedish Firm Operates Cameras Enforcing Oklahoma Driving Without Insurance Law
Cameras to enforce Oklahoma compulsory insurance laws headed to Tulsa. The semi-automated system is likely to result in systematic wrongful prosecutions. District Attorneys, who stand to gain $20 million a year for operation of the program, have little incentive to curtail wrongful prosecution or arrest of otherwise insured drivers. Read more »Robotic Uninsured Driver Enforcement Could Automate Wrongful Prosecution
A police officer's desktop review of images taken by roadside cameras and information stored in state databases is enough to arrest drivers suspected of driving without insurance in Oklahoma. The newly approved system threatens to automate wrongful prosecution by District Attorneys who have a financial incentive to allow systematic mistakes. Read more »Sweeping 2017 Oklahoma DUI Law Overturned
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has overturned a sweeping 2017 DUI law for due-process flaws and for violating constitutional single-subject requirements. The entire law was set aside before it even took effect. The decision means ongoing uncertainty for thousands of drivers accused of DUI - and police enforcing DUI laws - with regard to the procedure for contesting drivers license revocations after DUI arrests. Read more »Tulsa Lawyers' View of Oklahoma Property Crimes
Definition of Property Crimes Property crimes are generally those offenses that target property rather than people. There is no particular codification of property crime as such in Oklahoma. Property crimes are codified according to the facts of a particular crime. Larceny, burglary, shoplifting, auto theft, vandalism, embezzlement, and arson are often considered property crimes. While […] Read more »How is Larceny from a House Different from Burglary?
Larceny Defined In Oklahoma, larceny from a house is the act of stealing something of value from a house, vessel or temporary building. Larceny from a house is charged as a felony, with sentences of five years or more in prison. Oklahoma defines larceny as taking another’s personal property through fraud or stealth with the […] Read more »Does Oklahoma Have an Involuntary Manslaughter Law?
Involuntary Manslaughter: An Unintentional Killing All deaths in which one person kills another are homicides, but not all Oklahoma homicides rise to the level of a criminal act. The absence of intent can affect how, and if a homicide crime is charged, but absence of intent alone does not indicate a lawful homicide. Murder is […] Read more »State Ordered to Pay Attorneys Fees in Illegal Drivers License Revocation
In a precedent-setting case, the Oklahoma Dept. of Public Safety was ordered to pay attorney fees after the agency twice illegally revoked a mans drivers license. Read more »How Does Oklahoma Law Define Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon?
Assault and Battery With a Dangerous Weapon In Oklahoma, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon is defined as the committing of an unjustifiable assault, battery, or an assault and battery upon another person with any sharp or dangerous weapon. The weapon can be any type of firearm, air gun, or conductive energy weapon such […] Read more »
