What is voter disenfranchisement? Voter disenfranchisement refers to the practice of restricting or denying someone’s ability to vote.  Voter disenfranchisement can take many forms, including things we all share, like gender and age.  In other countries around the world, voter disenfranchisement is sometimes based on ethnicity or the area within a country an individual resides. ... The post Can felons vote in elections in Wisconsin? appeared first on Van Severen Law Office ..read more

Over the last year, parents across the United States have been prosecuted for crimes their children committed.  Can it happen in Wisconsin? On November 30, 2021 Ethan Crumbley killed four students and injured seven others at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan.  He was eventually sentenced to life in prison.  His parents, however, were also prosecuted.  James and Jennifer Crumbley faced criminal charges for involuntary manslaughter.  They were both convicted after a jury trial and sentenced to a decade in prison. So, can it happen in Wisconsin?  How easy is it ..read more

Wisconsin’s expungement laws in 2024 haven’t changed much.  This blog post explains the current state of the law: Wisconsin’s expungement laws in 2024 haven’t changed much.  Over the last few years, but for a few minor changes in the law, expungement (expunction) functions pretty consistently throughout the state.  And although Wisconsin’s law on wiping away criminal records is more difficult than many states, the law is clear, unambiguous, and easy to understand.  Figuring out which defendants, charges, and situations qualify is not a substantially difficult task. Van Seve ..read more

Wondering whether police can stop you for broken taillights in Wisconsin?  Van Severen Law Office, S.C. criminal defense lawyers explain: Broken taillights, and replacing burnt out bulbs, involves one of the most basic forms of maintenance we must perform on our vehicles.  This is especially the case if you’ve ever had the pleasure of driving a high mileage vehicle with some wear on it.  Unfortunately, sometimes you don’t discover your tail light isn’t working until it’s too late and the cops are behind you.  Whether the police can pull you over for an equipment violation ..read more

Wondering whether police can stop you for broken tail lights in Wisconsin?  Van Severen Law Office, S.C. criminal defense lawyers explain: Broken tail lights, and replacing burnt out bulbs, involves one of the most basic forms of maintenance we must perform on our vehicles.  This is especially the case if you’ve ever had the pleasure of driving a high mileage vehicle with some wear on it.  Unfortunately, sometimes you don’t discover your tail light isn’t working until it’s too late and the cops are behind you.  Whether the police can pull you over for an equipment violation ..read more

Marijuana is illegal in Wisconsin.  What about delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, and CBD? Years after the federal legalization of hemp-derived delta-9, Wisconsinites across the state have started to see advertisements for “legal weed.”  And once they take a look into these ads, they’re sometimes surprised to see that various companies across the United States are prepared to ship these items right to Wisconsin.  But plenty of smoke and mirrors are usually at play, and these companies typically use generic, confusing terms such as “weed,” “legal weed,” or “the good stuff” (our favorit ..read more

Prosecutors typically file additional charges when you run from the police.  But what are they?  Our criminal defense attorneys explain: We see people run from police on television all the time.  Sometimes we see it in real life.  Taking these actions will likely result in additional criminal charges.  How serious those charges are depend on a few circumstances.  For example, was the defendant in a vehicle when he fled from the police?  This is a felony called fleeing and eluding.  Was the defendant on foot when he ran away? The misdemeanor criminal cha ..read more

What are drunk driving laws in Wisconsin in 2024? Drivers in Wisconsin are constantly being bombarded by updated traffic laws.  Frequently, those updated laws include escalating drunk driving penalties throughout the state.  Just years ago, a fourth offense drunk driving charge was not automatically a felony.  Now, it is, and a conviction carries with it the possibility of having to go to prison. At Van Severen Law Office, S.C., we represent a significant amount of people facing all OWI offenses throughout Wisconsin.  We’ve represented individuals facing their first offens ..read more

What happens when a Wisconsin hunter accidentally shoots someone else? Unfortunately, accidents during hunting season happen every year.  Sometimes those accidents are minor.  Other times, those accidents result in fatalities and are the result of accidental shootings.  What happens when a hunter accidentally shoots another?  And importantly, what happens when the victim dies? In this blog post, criminal defense attorney Benjamin T. Van Severen discusses the criminal charges an individual in this position faces, along with what the government needs to prove in order to sus ..read more

A Wisconsin criminal defense attorney explains the pros and cons of a no contest plea. Sometimes criminal cases in Wisconsin conclude with a guilty or a no contest plea.  This is generally after the defendant decides he’s not interested in proceeding to trial, but instead wants to resolve the case.  Sometimes this is because the defendant is guilty.  Other times, it’s simply because he’s looking to accept responsibility and get the case over with.  Considering the fact that the defendant is looking to resolve the case, obviously he can’t enter a “not guilty” plea at this po ..read more