Criminal Defense
How Does Bail Work?
Anyone who grew up suffering through marathon Monopoly games with their siblings (while one player invariably stole $20s from the bank) likely knows a thing or two about bail. But if you or someone you love find yourself in need of bail money â perhaps for stealing from an actual bank â you do not…
Read MoreGrand Theft⊠Ambulance?
Well folks, we have another one. A case where someone is accused of a crime that sounds so far-fetched that you have to wonder if itâs real or if itâs part of the plot of a TV sitcom. According to an article on CNYCENTRAL.com, a woman in Upstate New York is accused of stealing an…
Read MoreDo You Have the Right to a Speedy Trial? Apparently Not During a Pandemic
Being arrested and charged with a crime can be terrifying â regardless of whether or not you are guilty. But what if youâve been arrested and are in jail awaiting your trial when a global pandemic hits and the wheels of justice suddenly stop turning? Now youâre facing the possibility of a criminal conviction â…
Read MoreGlobal Effort to Bring Down Organized Crime? Thereâs an App for That
If youâre a regular reader of this blog, you know how much I love a good cop procedural, and movies about criminal shenanigans. Iâm especially fond of The Sting, because you canât put Redford, Newman, and Shaw in a movie and NOT have it be wonderful. So in case you were wondering, heck yeah Iâm…
Read MoreCrime Doesnât Pay. Apparently, Neither Does Annapolis PD
As a criminal defense lawyer, I spend a lot of time arguing with cops. It comes with the job. People think weâre on opposite sides of the law, but thatâs not really true. Weâre both supposed to be upholding the laws, even if we do it in different ways. So when police officers suddenly find…
Read MoreDonât Be a (Super) Hero. Itâll Land You in Prison.
Whether youâre into DC or Marvel, movies or comics, we can all agree on one basic idea: superheroes are awesome. Itâs a fun fantasy, the idea of some super-powered, ultra-moral person above the agendas and borders of modern law and society, saving people and defeating evil. Usually thereâs spandex involved. No oneâs allowed to question…
Read MoreEx-Cons May Be Able to Serve on Juries Soon, Making Them as Miserable as Everyone Else
The right to a fair trial with a jury of your peers has been upheld in this country for centuries. Almost every citizen over 18 in the country has been summoned to jury duty at some point in their lives, even if they get dismissed for whatever reason before they enter the court. That being…
Read MoreNew Rules about Probation and Parole Violations
There are a handful of ways you can get out of prison: you can serve your time in full, you can receive a full pardon, or you can get out early on parole. In some cases, however, a judge might suspend your sentence and put you on probation instead. On October 1, 2016, the Justice Reinvestment…
Read MoreUnknown Warrants Warrant Concern
In the movies, someone having a warrant out for their arrest usually means some sort of high-speed chase is coming up, or maybe a SWAT team is en route to âhave you surrounded.â Itâs a very dramatic ordeal. Fast-paced, stressful, and life-ruining, itâs no wonder most people live in fear of receiving one for whatever…
Read MoreCOVID-19 Vaccinations: How Maryland Prisons Deal
Itâs been a very, very long year. We have all gone through unimaginable hardship thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the vaccines only now becoming fully accessible, we are finally starting to recover. Yes, COVID is still here. You still need to be responsible and take all precautions. But the statewide positivity rate is…
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