CRIMINAL INSTRUMENTS & TOOLS

A person commits an offense if he or she possesses criminal instruments or tools with the intent to use the criminal instruments or tools in the commission of a crime. A person also commits the offense of criminal instruments and tools if he or she manufactures, sells, or adapts criminal instruments or tools, with the intent to use, to aid in the use, or to permit another person to use the criminal instruments or tools in the commission of a crime.

Expungement

One can clean up a criminal record by expunging or sealing their criminal records. Expungement is the sealing of criminal records so that they may not be publicly available. It is basically the equivalent of erasing one's criminal record. One can petition the court to expunge their criminal record. Expungement may apply to convictions and arrests.

Hybrid Representation and the Standby Attorney

Hybrid representation is where the defendant serves as co-counsel with an attorney. The defendant does not have a constitutional right to hybrid representation. It is within the trial court's discretion to grant the defendant's request for hybrid representation.

VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER

A person commits the offense of voluntary manslaughter when he or she commits murder under the immediate influence of sudden passion that arises from an adequate cause. Sudden passion is also referred to as "heat of passion."

Vindictive and Selective Prosecution

A prosecutor may violate a defendant's due process rights if they are using their decision to prosecute the defendant for purposes of retaliation.