What purpose do plea bargains serve?
People who are facing criminal charges have a few options for handling their defense. They might decide to fight the charges to try to avoid having to deal with having a criminal record. In other cases, the defendant may recognize that they don’t have much of a chance...
Criminal defense: What offenses are eligible for expungement?
When a person is involved with or accused of criminal activity, it results in a black mark on your record. Even if a court dismissed your criminal case, your alleged involvement may still appear if a work superior or a potential landlord investigates your past. As you...
Can you take back an admission of guilt?
Imagine being pulled over for a traffic offense. Maybe it’s drunk driving or texting behind the wheel. Perhaps you hit someone, and you’re now being questioned. In your haste to clear up the situation, you might have apologized or taken on responsibility that wasn’t...
Can you beat a speeding ticket before getting a speeding ticket?
Even if you consider yourself a safe driver, it doesn’t mean you’re perfect. There will be times when you violate the rules of the road, such as by driving faster than the speed limit. If you’re pulled over for speeding, your goal is simple: to drive away from the...
Questioning can lead to false confessions
North Carolina is one of the states that require investigators to record the questioning of people in custody. However, it does not apply to all circumstances. If it were obligatory in all cases, it could help stop people from being pushed into a false confession. If...
What is expungement and why is it important?
Expungement is an important process for those who have been convicted of a crime to be familiar with. It can have significant impacts on the individual’s housing, employment and educational opportunities which is why those who may wish to seek an expungement should...
What happens if you are arrested out of state?
The blissful relaxation and fun of vacation can often provide a false sense of immunity to some things, one of them being the law. When out partying the night away with friends in a beach town, the thought of going to jail is probably the last thing on your mind....
When may a person face a breaking and entering charge?
Breaking and entering in North Carolina can be a misdemeanor or felony charge depending upon the circumstances surrounding the alleged crime. Whatever facts and evidence exist regarding the alleged commission of a breaking and entering crime against an individual,...
Arrest in North Carolina may have involved “plain view” doctrine
Drug possession arrests are quite common in North Carolina. However, our readers must remember that an arrest is not a conviction. There are many steps between an arrest and a conviction and, if there were any mistakes made by law enforcement officials or prosecutors,...
Understanding drug trafficking and distribution charges
As the media and entertainment industry portrays, drug crimes are serious offenses. Thus, they are met with severe penalties, especially when it comes to certain acts involving controlled substances. Facing drug charges should be treated seriously and met with an...