Qualifications for conditional discharge under North Carolina’s § 90-96
The situation can be stressful and scary if you are arrested for a drug crime. However, North Carolina § 90-96 offers a conditional discharge for first-time offenders facing certain charges. To take advantage of this, you must know the requirements and meet the...
Until your case is resolved, be careful on social media
Exercising caution on social media until your criminal case is resolved is crucial to protect your legal rights and maintain your privacy and reputation moving forward. If you don’t feel like you can realistically refrain from social media use altogether, you’ll want...
5 examples of prescription forgery
Many people take prescription medication to cure or treat an ailment. However, some have an addiction and use underhanded means to obtain it, e.g., prescription forgery. Prescription forgery is when someone — like a patient or a doctor — uses a copy of a prescription...
What does it mean to get evidence suppressed in a criminal case?
We’ve talked here before about why it’s crucial for law enforcement to maintain the “chain of custody” for evidence they have that someone allegedly committed a crime. That’s because if the location of evidence or the person possessing it is unaccounted for at any...
What does it mean to “take the fifth?”
If you are a fan of crime shows, you have probably heard a character mention the words, “I’m exercising my right to plead the fifth” But what exactly does this mean? The U.S. Constitution offers several protections to citizens. One of these is protection from making...
3 costly mistakes to avoid during a traffic stop
No matter how great of a driver you are, traffic mistakes are inevitable. If you are caught committing a traffic offense, law enforcement may pull you over for a little chat. And depending on the seriousness of the violation, you might walk away with a simple warning...
Drugs are detectable for longer than their effects last
Alcohol, breath tests and other means of testing confirm the presence of a substance in a person’s system but cannot confirm whether that presence is having an impact on them. Many drugs are still be detectable in a person’s system long after the impact of those drugs...
Are you entitled to defend yourself with violence?
Fortunately, incidents such as violent attacks and home break-ins are fairly rare, but they do happen. Such events can be very frightening for those on the receiving end. It can be difficult to know what to do in these circumstances, and you may not have much time to...
Are CAM bracelets in the future after a DWI/DUI arrest?
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...
Should you tell your criminal defense attorney everything?
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...