Bribery is the acceptance of anything of value in exchange for influence over the actions of someone holding a public or legal duty. Bribery can take the form of money, favors or other gifts of value. Bribery cases typically involve people in public office, police or...
Criminal Defense
What are the common DUI penalties in Maryland?
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration, there are a variety of criminal and administrative penalties for driving under the influence in the state. These penalties may result in jail time, fines, license suspension, and...
What should you know if you are under investigation?
Being the subject of a criminal investigation can be harrowing. Even if you are innocent of the crime that police are investigating, you may have reason to be extremely concerned. This type of situation can seem fraught with uncertainty, but your plan of action needs...
Drug court as a possible alternative to imprisonment
A drug conviction has the potential to set you back in many areas of your life. It may hurt your family and your bank account, for starters. It may, too, leave you facing time behind bars, which may hinder your ability to hold down a job. However, depending on...
Criminal acts that have immigration consequences
A criminal conviction sometimes has consequences related to immigration status. However, not every crime leads to deportation, as it needs to be a specific type of crime. Examples of crimes that result in deportation are aggravated felonies, domestic violence, most...
Shoplifting rises across the U.S.
Theivery comes in many different guises and takes many different names: embezzlement, fraud, larceny, grand larceny and petty theft, to name a few. The reasons for theft involve many complicated factors such as joblessness, desperation and hunger. Recent statistics...
Can the police enter your home without a warrant?
When dealing with police, it is always important to understand your rights. This includes your rights when they come to your doorstep. Many people feel like they must do as police say even on their own property, but is that the case? When police show up, you need to...
How reliable is eyewitness testimony?
If facing criminal charges and you learned the authorities have an eyewitness, your heart likely sank. Judges and juries have long placed significant weight on the testimony of people who witnessed alleged crimes. However, many factors may affect the reliability of...
Substance abuse, criminal activity and eligibility for drug court
In some instances, imprisonment may not be the best way of managing people who use illicit drugs or obtain them by illegal means. Treatment for drug abuse may be a better solution. Drug courts are now in operation in every state in the union as well as the District...
Are you eligible for a juvenile record expungement?
Having a Maryland criminal record may haunt you, and this holds true even if your record contains information about an offense you received a conviction for as a juvenile. Depending on the type of conviction you received, you may find that it follows you for years....
