Changes the maximum punishment a court may impose for a crime by a person who was under 18 years old when the crime was committed.  For a crime otherwise punishable by death, the maximum punishment is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.  For non-homicide crime, the maximum punishment is life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.  Effective March 30, 2011 and applies retroactively. 

S.B 277 (Chapter 245) Electronic Transmission of Sexual Image of a Minor

Prohibits a minor from knowlingly or willfully using an electronic device to possess, transmit or distribute a sexual image of himself, herself or another minor.  If the images are of himself or herself, the minor is considered in need of supervision for the first offense and a delinquent for the second offense.  If the images are of another minor, the minor in willful possession of the images is a child in need of supervision, but if the image is transmitted or distributed, the minor commits a delinquent act.

A.B. 83 (Chapter 31) Identity Theft

This measure became effective October 1, 2011, and applies retroactively to a person who committed an identity theft crime before that date, if the applicable statute of limitations has commenced but not yet expired on that date.  This bill expands the statute of limitations for an identity theft felony against a victim who was under 18 years of age at the time the offense was committed to four years after the victim discovers, or reasonably should have discovered, the offense. 

A.B.  107 (Chapter 80) Identification Procedures

This law requires each law enforcement agency to adopt policies and procedures applicable to identification procedures, including live lineups, photo lineups and show-ups. 

A.B. 57 (Chapter 51) Sex Offenders

Among other things, this law specified the items that must be included in a record of registration of a sex offender or an offender convicted of a crime against a child.  The record must identify the offender and include information on the offender’s criminal history, employment or occupation, enrollment as a student, level of registration, residence, vehicles, volunteer service and other information required by federal law.

A.B. 142 (Chapter 41) Property Crimes

This bill changes the threshold amount of money or value misappropriatedm stolen or taken.  It changes the threshold between a misdemeanor and a gross misdemeanor, or between a misdemeanor and a category C or D felony, from $250 to $650.  It also changes the thresholds between a category B felony and a lesser felony from $2,500 to $3,500.

A.B. 321 (Chapter 59) Justifiable Homicide

This bill modifies the definition of “justifiable homicide” by providing that a person is not required to retreat before using deadly force if he or she is not the original aggressor, has a right to be at the location where deadly force is used, and is not actively engaged in conduct in furtherance of criminal activity at the time.

S.B. 257 (Chapter 282) Grafitti

Among other things, reduces from $5,000 to $500 the aggregate value of damage used to determine the penalty imposed for committing multiple grafitti offenses.   Persons who place grafitti on protected sites are guilty of a category C felony and must serve at least 10 days in jail as a condition of probation.  If the offender is under the age of 18, the court has authority to order the offender’s parents to participate in counseling.  The actual property owner may now institute a civil claim and recover triple damages, plus attorney’s fees and costs from the offender, or from the offender’s parents is the offender is under the age of 18. 

http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/ADVISORY/2009-1.html

The simple answer is no. You do not need an attorney. But in reality, there is a lot at stake, even if you believe you are innocent. If you think prosecutors always play fair, you may want to reconsider after reading this.

Former Sen. Ted Stevens, victim of prosecutorial misconduct

Generally, attorneys are a self-regulated profession. That means that in cases where attorney misconduct is alleged, the attorney is held to answer before the appropriate state bar licensing authority. Penalties can range from reprimand to temporary or permanent loss of license to practice law. People often think of attorney misconduct only when their own attorney does something wrong. However, in criminal cases it is sometimes the prosecutor that commits misconduct (prosecutorial misconduct) that prejudices the defendant, and not the defendant’s criminal defense attorney. The defense attorney is the strongest safeguard to protect a defendant from prosecutorial misconduct.

In one recent incident, United States Senator Ted Stevens, from Alaska, was the victim of very serious prosecutorial misconduct. As with Senator Ted Stevens, one very important reason why every criminal defendant should have an attorney is to guard against prosecutorial misconduct. In Senator Stevens case, although he was convicted first, before the misconduct was discovered, the conviction was ultimately thrown out. Senator Stevens’ case begs the very real question, “If respected prosecutors are willing to risk misconduct against a high profile 50 year United States Senator, aren’t the odds for misconduct greater in cases where the defendant isn’t well known or famous?”

Details are here: USA vs. Ted Stevens

Supreme Court of Nevada Law Library