Don't be fooled. Bad company does corrupt good character. Recognize these words of wisdom? Believe it or not, this insight comes directly from the Bible. Indeed, First Corinthians 15 and 33 advises us to not be deceived or misled, because bad company corrupts good character. I want to talk abo...
It recently dawned on me that record, as in criminal record, and record, as in recording, are spelled the same way. In addition to being spelled the same, these two words also seem to have a direct correlation with each other. There is a correlation between people that hit the record button and...
So, you have just discovered that you have an outstanding warrant. Understandably, you might have a few questions! One of the first questions you may be asking yourself is can a warrant be recalled? The good news is that the answer is yes! When someone has an outstanding warrant and wishes to...
What happens when the person who called police or initiated charges decides that they do not want anything to do with the case anymore? Are the charges dropped? I get asked about this from time to time, and unfortunately there is not one universally applicable answer, as it really depends. Wha...
“If I am innocent and have nothing to hide, do I still need an attorney?” “If I already know I will be pleading guilty, do I still need an attorney?” I get asked questions such as these regularly as a defense attorney. They are fair questions, as most people do not possess the same expertise ...
The good book tells us, “In all of your getting, get an understanding.” In a court of law, acting cool will get you nowhere. Over the course of my career, I have witnessed countless individuals get so caught up in looking nonchalant or unimpressed in the courtroom, that they have let important...
Have you ever heard the phrase, “little hinges swing big doors?” The sentiment behind this saying is a perfect way to describe the topic I would like to discuss today. The matter in question is weed, and how even smoking just a little can lead to big consequences. These consequences play out ev...
I have a serious question for all of you. We hear all the time about this so-called, “code of the street,” in which one of the worst things you can do is snitch. My question is, if telling on someone else is the absolute worst thing you can do, where does telling on yourself stand? Does telling...
What is the difference between a witness and someone who snitches? I understand snitching can be a very controversial topic. We all know the code of the street, growing up being told things like, “you should never be a rat,” that, “a snitch is the worst thing ever,” or, “snitches get stitches,”...
Never make a long-term decision based on a short-term circumstance. If you find yourself behind bars facing a criminal case, the best advice I can give is to never make a long-term decision based upon a short-term circumstance. Imagine you are sitting in your local county jail, awaiting a tri...
Every year, millions of Americans find themselves sitting in a local county jail awaiting trial. It may be that they did not possess the resources to post bond, or for whatever reason the judge decided to keep them there until trial. These individuals might be there for weeks, months, or some...
My name is Corey Scott, and I am a criminal defense attorney located in Indianapolis. I would like to discuss one of the worst positions you could ever put your attorney in, and why this should never happen in a court of law! Your attorney should never be surprised or caught off guard by infor...
Are you facing serious domestic battery charges and have been told by a girlfriend, fiancé, or loved one not to worry about it because they are going to dismiss your charges? Hi, my name is Corey Scott, I am a criminal defense attorney, and my mission is to help people retain their freedom....
You get a phone call from a number you do not recognize, and let it go to voicemail. You listen to it, and lo and behold, it is Detective ___________, calling to say that he has a few questions for you and would like to talk. What do you do? My name is Corey Scott, and I am a criminal def...
We have all heard the phrase, “What you don't know can't hurt you.” Unfortunately, that phrase could be the farthest thing from the truth, and there is a story I would like to relay that illustrates this well. I was in a courtroom waiting for my case to be called when the court called up three y...
If you have been charged with a crime, and your initial hearing is fast approaching, you may understandably be a little anxious or worried. What do you do? What should you expect? These are questions I get all the time as a criminal defense attorney, and I would like to walk you through what to...
We have all heard the phrase, “What you don't know can't hurt you.” Unfortunately, that phrase could be the farthest thing from the truth, and there is a story I would like to relay that illustrates this well. I was in a courtroom waiting for my case to be called, when the court called up thre...
One of the many things I have learned during my time as a defense attorney, is that common sense is not so common. I would like to discuss a phrase, that when heard, should make you turn around and run the other way: “All you have to do is…” Although most can see the red flags this phrase rai...
What are some important questions to ask a prospective criminal defense attorney? A good place to start when interviewing different criminal defense attorneys is with their educational background. You will want to know how long they have been practicing in the area. It is important to note how...
Do you have an old, crusty, conviction sitting on your record? Chances are this conviction is doing nothing but ruin new opportunities for you while reducing your quality of life! If this is relatable, I would like to let you in on something that could change your life for the better. Indiana h...
A man posts a picture of himself and his victim onto Snapchat. Unbeknownst to him, one of his friends takes a screenshot and forwards it onto the authorities. A traveler is upset with the airline he is flying and makes the decision to post about it. He tweets, “You know what? This airline has ...
Imagine for a moment that you have a criminal case pending, and the trial date is quickly approaching. Your attorney calls you and says, “I have great news! The prosecutor has just given me a wonderful deal. He is willing to plead you to ______, and he is going to give you probation, with no ja...
Recently, when reading the news, I came across a headline stating that R. Kelly had parted ways with his attorneys ahead of his federal trial. The story was unclear about who parted with who, alleging that R. Kelly had fired his attorneys, while also going on to say that his attorneys had alrea...
What do you do when police are knocking at your door? I would like to share five things that you should consider if you are ever in a situation where law enforcement is outside your residence. 1. The first rule is to never open the door. I say this because in our homes we have the greatest expect...
“But they didn't even read me my Miranda Rights!” The statement above is one I hear all the time, and it exemplifies a common mistake people make regarding their Miranda Rights. While many people can recite their Miranda Rights by heart, most actually do not understand when Miranda Rights appl...