Perry A. Craft has dedicated his life to helping people in need. He has tried, settled, or resolved numerous civil and criminal cases in State and Federal courts, and has represented teachers and administrators before school boards, administrative judges, and the state Board of Education. Learn more about Attorney Craft.
Posts by Perry Craft
Considerations in a Motion to Suppress Hearing
Frequently, when an individual is charged with a crime, he or she files a Motion to Suppress and asks for a suppression hearing. The purpose is to ask the court to rule that particular evidence cannot be used in determining an individual’s guilt or innocence. When evidence is suppressed, the prosecutor may not use the…
Read MoreReasons for Deportation Explained
Deportation means being returned or sent back from the U.S. to your home country. American citizens cannot be deported; however, if a person born in a foreign country fraudulently obtained his or her citizenship, he or she can be deported. Undocumented immigrants (those who entered the U.S. illegally) are subject to being deported at any…
Read MoreWhat is a Sanctuary City?
A “sanctuary city” is not a precise legal term. A city’s residents typically do not vote to designate their city a “sanctuary city,” but its leader can. A city, town or county (or, in the case of California, a state) is designated as a “sanctuary” because it directs (or asks) local law enforcement not to…
Read MoreOnline Identity Thieves Target Teens and Young Adults
Identity theft is happening far too often. Criminals have taken aim at the vulnerable and inexperienced. In 2014, 1.3 million identity theft cases involved people under the age of 16, but there are protective steps youth and parents can take to avoid or minimize on-line harm. If you or your child is the victim of…
Read MoreCrimes Leading to Deportation: A Complex Equation
For non-citizen residents of the United States, committing a crime often results in serious financial, legal, and immigration-status consequences. The nature and circumstances of the specific crime, however, impacts the outcome and, perhaps more crucially, determines whether it results in deportation. There are three main categories of deportable offenses: those related to immigration and security…
Read MoreTennessee is Cracking Down on Meth Distribution and Sales
It is no secret that our country is in the grip of an opioid epidemic. Stories about opioid-related overdoses are all over the news. In Tennessee, however, we are facing another battle – one against the use, manufacturing, distribution, and sale of methamphetamines. WKRN discussed this in a recent article, calling it the “madness of…
Read MoreWitnesses
In the United States, we honor the rule of law. The U.S. prides itself on its system of justice where laws apply to all and where a powerful elite’s whims do not control the outcome of controversies or disputes. The law holds citizens accountable and defines their rights and responsibilities. Controversies and disputes, however, invariably…
Read MoreEveryone Has the Right to a Competent Defense
Many people do not understand what “criminal defense” means or involves. They see lawyers portrayed in movies or TV and believe that every trial is “all or nothing:” the accused is either guilty or innocent of the charges. However, in this area of law, the outcome often depends upon what facts can be shown, and…
Read MoreImmigration Plans and Bans Continue to Change: Know Your Rights
The last few months have been turbulent. Many immigrants have expressed fear, sadness and anger over the proposed immigration plans coming out of the White House, and over the executive orders and travel bans. Now, more than ever, it is important to know your rights You have the right to remain silent. You do not…
Read MoreAssault Conviction May Get You Deported
There are two main categories of assault charges in Tennessee: simple assault and aggravated assault. A person who is convicted of either charge may be subject to time in jail or prison, as well as hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines, depending on the specific charges. For example, you could be charged with: Aggravated…
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