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The Law Office of Chris Van Vechten
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An old woman with clasped hands

The Family and Offender Sentencing Alternative: Our Most Under-Utilized Tool in the War on Crime

September 9, 2019/in Criminal Defense Law Blog, Criminal Sentencing/by Chris Van Vechten

The Parenting Sentencing Alternative allows some nonviolent offenders the opportunity to avoid prison, or get out of prison, in order to parent their children.

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A person in handcuffs - Now It's Easier to Vacate a Conviction (including immigration convictions)

Now It’s Easier to Vacate a Conviction (including immigration convictions)

July 29, 2019/in Criminal Defense Law Blog, Overturning Convictions/by Chris Van Vechten

The law has changed following passage of House Bill 1041, sponsored by Representative Drew Hansen, so that more people can apply to have their criminal records vacated and expunged than ever before.

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It's a scam - In 2016, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office launched a new division called the High Priority Offender Unit (HPO).

Pierce County’s High Priority Offender Scam

January 22, 2019/in Civil Rights and the United States Constitution, Criminal Defense Law Blog/by Chris Van Vechten

In 2016, the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office launched a new division called the High Priority Offender Unit (HPO for short).  The idea was that prosecutors would use data from a defendant’s prior criminal history to assess whether this defendant is – compared to other criminal defendants –  disproportionately committing crimes.  By 2017 the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office claimed to have sent more than 650 HPOs to prison, which – they claim –dramatically reduced crime in the community. All of these claims range from suspicious to flat out untrue.

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Four Rules to Remember When Fighting the DOL (Department of Licensing)

November 12, 2018/in Criminal Defense Law Blog, Law Enforcement and Police Officers, WA Department of Licensing (DOL)/by Chris Van Vechten

Four Rules to Remember When Fighting the Washington State Department of Licensing

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Estate Planning Devices

Halloween Special on Wills, POAs and other Estate Planning Devices

September 24, 2018/in Criminal Defense Law Blog, Estate Planning/by Chris Van Vechten

One of the great failures of the criminal justice system was the Sentence Reform Act, a piece of legislation designed to promote consistency and fairness in the criminal justice system by restraining the power of judges without taking any steps to restrain prosecutors and police.

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Indecent exposure - The Naked Truth That You Must Know

Indecent Exposure Laws: The Naked Truth

August 27, 2018/in Criminal Defense Law Blog, Indecent Exposure/by Law Office of Chris Van Vechten

If you have been charged, expect to be charged, or are currently being investigated for anything resembling indecent exposure, it is important you retain a committed and aggressive attorney who understands the sensitivities of these sorts of crimes as soon as possible.  Failing to do so risks undermining your case and being charged with even more serious offenses.

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Bail Jumping is failing to show up to court when ordered to do so. You don't need to be out on bail to be guilty

Defining Bail Jumping

August 22, 2018/in Bail and Bail Bonds, Criminal Defense Law Blog/by Chris Van Vechten

There are many things involved in the criminal justice system that seem to be purposely designed to prevent the defendant from asserting their right to trial. Bail jumping is one of them, because it gives the State the opportunity to charge the Defendant with an additional crime simply by virtue of missing a court date.

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Handwritten text: not guilty and a loudspeaker

150 “Not Guilty” Verdicts / Criminal Case Dismissed… and Counting

May 14, 2018/in Criminal Case Dismissed, Criminal Defense Law Blog/by Chris Van Vechten

The Law Office of Chris Van Vechten is celebrating our 150th criminal case dimissed! We’re proud of our record and we want to help you with your criminal case.

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All White Jury

The Beginning of the End of the All White Jury?

April 23, 2018/in Civil Rights and the United States Constitution, Criminal Defense Law Blog/by Law Office of Chris Van Vechten

The truth is, despite the wonderful step taken recently by our Supreme Court, the systemic removal of people of color from juries over many generations will likely continue to frustrate efforts to diversify the racial makeup of our juries. But what we might be witnessing today is the beginning of the end.

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Incentivized Informants

The Need to Pass a Law to Require Prosecutors to Disclose Information from Incentivized Informants

May 21, 2017/in Criminal Defense Law Blog, Indecent Exposure/by Law Office of Chris Van Vechten

Read about the needful things to pass a law that needs prosecutors to conceal the informants. Know this law can protect the innocent and ensure fairness.

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