FAQS

FastCase is a library database that contains full-text cases, statutes, regulations, and other legal materials.  It can be accessed through the Rasmussen University Online Library.

To locate statutes in FastCase, click on the Search Statutes link on the left panel.

Once you have linked to the search page, select the jurisdiction (Federal or state) from the menu at the bottom of the page.  You also can select a search mode (keyword, natural language, legal citation) at the top of the page.  Enter search terms in the textbox and click Search.

As a demonstration, a search for a theft statute in Ohio was conducted, producing the following results.  Note that statutes are listed in relevance order—link to the full text by clicking on the statute's title.

To cite a statute, APA follows this format:

Name of Act, Volume Source § section number (year).

Americans with Disabilities Act, 2 U.S.C. § 1331 (2015).

Note: Not every statute has a name.  When there is no common name, begin the citation with the abbreviation for the statutory code followed by the section number and year when a name is unavailable. 

Example:

Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.02 (2015).

Consult the FastCase section of the Paralegal Guide for more assistance.