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New Missouri Criminal Code 2017

combschris1 · December 24, 2017 ·

What you need to know about the upcoming changes in the Criminal Code come 2017
New Criminal Code in Missouri beginning January 1st, 2017

Introduction

For a decade now, Missouri’s lawmakers have been working hard to revamp the state’s criminal code in a view to reviewing the state’s sentencing laws and modify some felonies and misdemeanors classification structures. After many sitting and deliberation, the bill has been signed off by both the Senate and House of Representatives and presently awaiting Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s approval for the reviewed law to be taken effect by 1st of January, 2016.

The largest modification in the criminal code is the presentation of the new felonies and misdemeanors classes that will take effect at said date with effect changes that may have a severe impact on criminality in Missouri. The Missouri General Assembly passed the bill containing revision to the current criminal code in the years back. The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorney said it takes ten years to draft, pass and implement a review as it is in the case of this criminal code. According to the Association, the criminal code revision is an effort to put a modern criminal code in place to serve as a 21-century basis for the criminal justice system in Missouri.

The amendment cut across all facets of criminal law such as violent offenders, intensifying repeated punishment, strengthening DWI enforcement laws and increasing child sex predators’ penalties. The revision also features some other issues such as the addition of incest as an aggravator in molestation cases of a child, addition of a fifth-felony class, habitual classification of offenders as dangerous felonies, the formation of four levels of felony child molestation, and increasing the punishment of drunk driving crash death.

Changes in the Missouri Criminal Code

The legislative arms of Missouri have effected many changes in the criminal code in a view to address some crime issues in the country. Highlighted below are some of the significant changes made to the criminal code:

Changes to Missouri DWI law: Around the world, driving while intoxicated by alcohol is not encouraged; hence, the rule of law to stop this habit in a view to minimizing the rate of accident in the highway. Due to changes in the Missouri criminal code, the state’s DWI laws would receive effects in many ways when it finally takes effect by January 2017. A change would include a label of “habitual offenders” for multiple intoxicated driving offenses convicts. These hardened criminals such as repeated convicted drivers of any of the under listed offenses:

– Three impaired driving offenses if at least two of the offenses involved the injury or caused death of another person
– Four or more impaired driving offenses if at least one offense caused death or involved injury of another person
– Five or more impaired driving offenses

The classification of Missouri drivers as “habitual offenders” under the reviewed law would be highly subjected to severe punishment for repeat DWI convictions compared to other individuals. It is not only limited to road driving, but also to the waterway in the state as it will extend to boating while intoxicated. Reviewed classes for felonies and misdemeanors: Another change in the criminal code is a new classification of some felonies and misdemeanors. Not only classification was made, but also restructuring and sentencing laws in agreement with each class. There is a creation of additional class D and E for misdemeanor and felony respectively in the bill. The new bill positions change to a jail term of Class C felony from three to ten years as opposed to the current law which stated Class C felony prison term to be not more than seven years. Also, there is increment of jail term from four to seven for felony DWI. Changed Bill would relax penalties in some areas: Generally, people of Missouri believed that every changed criminal code is often focused in cracking down on convicted people that may be condemned for certain crimes or the other. Nonetheless, the bill would also relax some penalties on some convicted offenders as opposed to people’s thought. Some of the examples of these penalties that the new bill would relax are;

– The bill modify the DWI ignition interlock law by taking away the requirement of equipped GPS devices
– The new bill will also lessen the punishment of the first-time convict of marijuana possession especially in the case involving drug of 10 grams or less weight. This means that the crime will be classified as Class D under misdemeanor as against Class A which was classified before. The convicts will only offer to pay a fine as against jail term.

Other significant modifications for intoxication-related boating and traffic offenses: County and municipal decree driving violation under the alcohol or drugs influence were reinserted into this bill, defined as “intoxication-related traffic offense”. This ordinance violations are contained under the current law definition as against in the reviewed code which will take effect by January 2017. However, under the reviewed code, it is cleared stated that any criminal indictment associated to the operating of a vessel, vehicle, or even airplane with excessive alcohol content or wholly intoxicated unless existing other evidence must be discharged. This new development implies that the reference to offenses handling a vehicle, aircraft or vessel with excessive content of blood alcohol has been removed, thereby only employs to operating aircraft, vehicle, or vessel while impaired or intoxicated.
Changes definitions and punishment scales

The new criminal code has effected definition changes for being “aggravated” or “persistent offender” in both traffic and boating intoxicated-related offenses:
The bill reviewed that “a person is a ‘persistent offender’ if the individual has been found guilty of one intoxicated-related traffic offense in which the defendant was operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and another person was injured or killed.” This change is also similar to “persistent boating offender” definition. The bill states clearly that anyone finds wanting of this crime of intoxication-related and boating must serve a two-year jail term before being eligible for probation under the review edition. Also, the reviewed bill defined this as concerning an “aggravated boating offender” that; “A person is an ‘aggravated boating offender’ if he or she has been found guilty of two or more intoxication-related boating offenses committed on separate occasions when at least one of the incidents involved the defendant injuring or killing another person while operation a vessel while intoxicated.”

The offense of boating or driving under the influence of alcohol is recently listed under Class B misdemeanor; however, it has been reviewed to take effect by January 2017 with exclusive circumstances involving children in the vehicle with a prior number of offenses of the offender. Intoxicated-related traffic and boating offenses have a complex definition and punishment scale. Let’s quickly look at the scale as changed to be taken effect by January 2017:

Questions to Ask Personal Injury Lawyers Before Representation

combschris1 · December 24, 2017 ·

Questions to Ask Personal Injury Lawyers Before Representation

Being injured in any kind of accident can be extremely frustrating all on its own, whether it was a slip and fall accident, a car accident, or something else entirely. Because of the seriousness of the situation, you should give yourself the best chance of success by finding and retaining the best and most qualified personal injury lawyers in Saint Louis, Missouri you can find. Be sure to ask some of these key questions to have the peace of mind knowing that you are making the right decision.

Do You Have Experience with This Type of Claim?

The first thing you should look for when looking for personal injury lawyers is one who has experience with your specific type of claim. Several years of experience cannot compensate for a lack of specific experience representing clients in your situation. For example, if you were injured in a car accident, even a highly qualified personal injury lawyer may not be qualified to represent you in particular if they have not represented other clients who were injured in car accidents.

What Would Your Past Clients Say about You?

You might have begun your search by asking family and friends who they would recommend. This can be a great way to start with your search for qualified lawyers. One of the key indicators of a good attorney is what their past and present clients say about them. While you can find a lot of information on the law firm’s website in terms of testimonials, you should also do an online search for the law firm to see for yourself what some of the reviews say about the lawyer and the law firm.

What Would Other Legal Professionals Say about You?

It is important to find a lawyer who is well spoken of by past and present clients. It may be even more telling to know what other legal professionals and judges say about the attorney. One of the greatest ways to find a good lawyer is to talk to another lawyer with whom you have worked. The attorney you are thinking about hiring may even be able to give you some names of other attorneys who can provide a reference for them.

What Kind of Matters Do You Focus Most on?

Find out what types of matters the attorney tends to focus. You might find a highly qualified lawyer, but when choosing someone to represent you in an injury claim, it would probably be in your best interests to find a lawyer whose experience is largely in personal injury. An attorney whose cases are primarily divorce or bankruptcy cases, for example, with a smattering of personal injury experiences thrown in, this might not be the right professional for you.

Do I Have a Valid Case?

When you are looking for an attorney, it would be extremely helpful to schedule some initial consultations. Most attorneys who practice personal injury will offer a free initial consultation just to determine whether there is a good fit and whether you have a valid case. During this first meeting, your prospective lawyer can help by identifying the strengths and weaknessesof your case and how they might be used to build a strong strategy for your case. If you do not have a valid case, they should be able to tell you about any alternatives you might have in case you do not have a strong case as well.

Finding the right lawyer can make or break your personal injury claim. A highly qualified lawyer is simply your best option for the most desirable results. Being able to find personal injury lawyers in Saint Louis, MO who can help you means being able to ask key questions to get to know them and their qualifications a bit better.

Do you need a St. Louis DWI lawyer if you’re innocent?

combschris1 · December 24, 2017 ·

Why you need a good St. Louis DWI Lawyer

Firms that handle drunk driving cases are not there just to help those who were really guilty of the crime. They are there to protect people in sticky situations like yours as well. Working with someone like this can help to present the right evidence, protect your permanent record, lessen or remove the charges, expedite the process, and keep you calm and collected.

A good St. Louis DWI Lawyer Will Present the Right Evidence

The cops that pull people over have a number of tests they can run to determine if the driver was under the influence of something. While these tests have been very helpful in getting a lot of dangerous drivers off the road, they can also get innocent people in trouble. Failure to walk a line could be an inner-ear infection or simple nerves. If alcohol was spilled on you at some point, then you could fail a breath test. Getting a DUI lawyer, such as Christopher Combs of the Combs Law Group LLC on your side will help you to combat the evidence against you by presenting all the right information to show your innocence. Standard field sobriety tests are solely subjective evaluations of the officer and therefore can be attacked by an aggressive DUI defense attorney.

A good St. Louis DWI Lawyer Will Protect Your Permanent Record

Having a charge of drunk driving on your record can be incredibly harmful. This can get in the way of employment opportunities and acceptance to certain educational facilities. Having a good attorney help you will include ensuring that your record stays as clean as possible. This one benefit can have a lot of long-term help for you.

A good St. Louis DWI Lawyer Will Reduce or Remove the Charges

It is not always possible for a good attorney to completely remove the charges against you. Even if you were not driving drunk, there was something in your conduct that caused the cops to pull you over. Sometimes enough evidence can be produced to drop the charges altogether, and you can walk away without any negative consequences. In most cases, however, the charges will have to remain in some form. The real benefit comes in lessening those charges. Instead of a felony DUI, it can be reduced to careless and imprudent or reckless driving. These are much less serious infringements.

A good St. Louis DWI Lawyer Will Expedite the Process

The sooner you can be done with this situation, the better. Trying to navigate the mess of red tape and legal jargon on your own can take a really long time. You need a good attorney to help speed things up.

They Will Keep You Calm and Collected

The biggest mistake a lot of people in your situation make is coming to court full of anger and frustration. While this is a frustrating situation, you will not get any help from acting in an erratic manner. You need to appear calm and collected. Having someone there to be your representative and to train you in the proper way to act can be very helpful in presenting the right image.

This is a stressful situation no matter how you look at it. Whatever led to you getting caught up in the middle of it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you get the help you need. Getting the help of Christopher Combs and the Combs Law Group LLC will help you make sense of the situation and come out as unscathed as possible. There is no reason you should have to pay the price for a crime you did not commit.

Areas Served

We proudly represent clients throughout the St. Louis Metro area including the following municipalities and counties: Affton, Florissant, Chesterfield, University City, Oakville, Wildwood, Ballwin, Mehlville, Kirkwood, Hazelwood, Maryland Heights, Webster Groves, Ferguson, Spanish Lake, Manchester, Lemay, Overlan, Concord, Creve Coeur, Clayton, Bridgton, Jennings, St. Ann, Crestwood, Bellenfontaine, Town and Country, Berkley, Richmond Heights, Maplewood, Ellisville, Ladue, Des Peres, Sunset Hills, Brentwood, Eureka, Olivette, Sappington, St. John, Black Jac, Shrewsbury, St. Charles County, St. Louis County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, Lincoln County, and Warren County, Ste. Genevieve County

Disclaimer

The information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice. No formation of the attorney-client privilege is created by the use of this site. The choice of an attorney is an important one and should not be based solely on advertisements.
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