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...
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...
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...
While DNA testing is a major component in many criminal trials in Maryland and across the United States, it has not always been a part of the evidence process. Some defendants did not have access to DNA evidence gathered during the case, which could potentially lead...
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...
In my most recent blog, I examined how judges decide whether to have serious cases involving 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds handled in juvenile court or as adult criminal cases. For a variety of reasons—including the fact that, although the juvenile court has...
The most rigorous study ever done on a widely-used forensic technique – bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) – reveals disturbing error rates and disagreements among certified analysts. The study, published in the August edition of Forensic Science International,...
Defendants in federal prosecutions have the right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment. That privilege includes the right to effective assistance of counsel. If your lawyer did not advise you properly or made legal mistakes during your trial resulting in a negative...
The use of DNA in criminal cases may make an important difference when it comes to establishing whether someone is guilty or not of committing a crime. Since law enforcement can gather DNA from just about anything from saliva to skin cells, police may look for DNA...
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...