Fact-Checking Methodology
Use the steps below to verify a legal summary. Follow direct statute links where supplied, and use the state law directory for citations that still need a direct link.
Step 1 — Primary source identification
Identify the specific section supporting a claim, its effective date, and the jurisdiction. A general bibliography is not a substitute for a provision that supports the statement.
Step 2 — Cross-verification
Read the linked statutory text first. Compare definitions, exceptions, and related offenses, then consult reliable secondary material for context. Directory links help locate a source but do not prove a legal conclusion.
Step 3 — Editorial review
Independent review is most useful when the reviewer has relevant legal expertise. A review credit must identify the actual reviewer and review date; generic editorial labels do not establish that this happened.
Step 4 — Scheduled re-verification
Recheck affected claims after amendments. A content edit date records a change to a page; it is not a certification that every statute on the page was reverified.