The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is rolling out a pilot program in the western part of the state for those considered “high-risk” DWI/DUI offenders. The “Booze It and Lose It” program could eventually make its way across the state, according to...

If you’re charged with a crime, you have a right to a fair trial – and a zealous defense, but does that mean you really should tell your attorney everything, even if you’re guilty? Absolutely. While you may approach the situation with some misgivings, especially if...

Most people know that law enforcement officers can’t just come to your home and start looking around for evidence of a crime. They typically need permission to come in and look around or a search warrant that specifies what areas they can search and what they can...

North Carolinians know all too well the toll that the opioid epidemic has taken on many parts of the country. Perhaps the drug most synonymous with this epidemic is OxyContin. This powerful and highly addictive prescription painkiller rapidly became recklessly...

Chain of custody refers to how law enforcement officers handle items of evidence during an investigation. When the police fail to follow proper procedures when dealing with evidence, it could give rise to chain of custody errors. The possibility that the evidence...

There are plenty of situations in which you cannot lie to the police. They could charge you with obstruction of justice in some cases, for instance. If they ask you to identify yourself during a traffic stop, you're legally obligated to do so. You cannot give them a...

Do you know what discovery means in the criminal justice system? It is the pretrial disclosure of evidence and documents relevant to a specific case. Discovery procedures compel each side to share information about the facts of the alleged crime or event. Most...

There are few people who don’t get nervous when addressed by the police, particularly if it is clear that they are under suspicion of a criminal offense. Human reactions vary from person to person. Some may choose to cooperate in full. Others might get angry and...

Just because property is in your possession does that mean that you can do whatever you want with it. Certain property is still subject to restrictions under the law. In the legal code, the government refers to prescription medications as controlled substances, which...

The Constitution gives people in this country specific rights. The Fifth Amendment specifically covers protections provided that can prevent a person from incriminating themselves in a criminal matter. You may be familiar with these rights thanks to law enforcement...