Criminal Procedure & Public Interest Researcher
David Chen conducts in-depth research on criminal justice procedure, constitutional Fourth and Fifth Amendment protections, and state-by-state judicial systems. He works to ensure legal explainers accurately cite statutory codes, judicial rules, and court precedents.
In the United States, crimes are classified by severity. A felony is a major criminal offense punishable by over one year in prison, whereas a misdemeanor typically caps jail time at one year.
Following an arrest, a suspect is taken into police custody, booked at a station, and brought before a judicial magistrate within 24 to 72 hours for formal arraignment and bail review.
Miranda warnings inform suspects in police custody of their constitutional privilege against self-incrimination and right to legal counsel prior to any interrogation.
Probable cause is the constitutional threshold of objective evidence required for police to conduct lawful searches, make arrests, and secure search warrants.
Divorce is governed by state statutory law. All 50 states recognize no-fault divorce, resolving asset division, alimony, child custody, and support.
Family courts award legal and physical custody based strictly on the 'best interests of the child,' evaluating stability, parental bonds, and safety.
Child support is a continuous financial contribution from a non-custodial parent calculated under state guidelines based on income and parenting time.
A prenuptial agreement is a formal contract executed prior to marriage establishing how property, debts, and alimony will be handled upon divorce or death.
A personal injury claim is a civil tort action seeking financial compensation for physical injury or emotional harm caused by another's negligence.
Negligence is the failure to exercise the standard of reasonable care that a prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances.
Negligence involves careless failure to exercise reasonable care, while intentional harm involves deliberate wrongful conduct with knowledge of injury.
A statute of limitations is an enacted statutory deadline setting the maximum time period within which a lawsuit must be filed after an injury occurs.
A Green Card authorizes a foreign national to live and work permanently in the U.S., serving as a primary pathway to U.S. citizenship.
A visa permits entry for a temporary specific purpose, whereas a Green Card confers permanent authorization to live and work indefinitely.
Naturalization is the formal legal process by which a lawful permanent resident is granted U.S. citizenship after fulfilling statutory requirements.
Employment-based visas allow foreign professionals, executives, and skilled workers to work in the U.S. temporarily or permanently.