If you are arrested on drug charges, you will no doubt hear a wide range of “helpful advice” from people. Everyone has a story about a brother or cousin or friend who got busted.
But there is a lot of misinformation out there. The outcome depends on many factors – the facts of the case, the judge, the prosecutor … and your legal representation. Here are some of the ways it could shake out.
For college students and young people, one error in judgment can result in lifelong consequences. While some penalties aren't as serious as others, a criminal charge can possibly limit your child's professional and educational opportunities down the road.
If your college student is facing drug charges, you'll want to know what to expect in the time following. Depending on the facts of their case, there may be programs that can help you minimize the consequences of a drug charge. For instance, if your child is a first-time drug offender, they may qualify for a conditional discharge. The charges can be dismissed following the successful completion of a probation program.
A Florida driver who was caught with an open bottle of bourbon had a novel defense to a DUI arrest. He claimed he was only drinking at stop signs. So, you know, he wasn’t drinking while driving. That would be irresponsible.
Obviously, his brilliant legal excuse did not prevent his DUI arrest. It does emphasize that the best advice is to (a) exercise your right to remain silent and (b) get a lawyer who knows defenses that may actually work.
Most states, including South Carolina, have "felony murder" statutes. These laws trigger first-degree murder charges against people who had no murderous intent. It also leads to murder charges against other individuals who were present or somehow contributed to an unintended death.
Lawmakers in California have introduced a bill to scale back felony murder prosecutions. Under the amended law, murder charges would be reserved for individuals who (a) intended to kill someone, (b) actually killed someone or (c) directly caused death through reckless indifference.
The concept of bail is to ensure that the accused will show up for court once they are released from jail. But for many defendants, bail bonds are set unreasonably high. Unable to raise bail, they sit in jail for months until their trial date rolls around.
An analysis by FiveThirtyEight confirms that the cash bail system is not only unfair, but often random. The research shows that granting of bail varies by jurisdiction -- and often comes down to the whims of particular judges.
The chances are high that you have been pulled over for speeding or some other minor traffic violation. In that situation, you know immediately that you may have broken a law. Not all violations result in immediate notification, however. In the case of white collar crime, you may actually be one of the last people to find out that you're under investigation.
An Ohio tax preparer feels vindicated (and relieved) after a jury acquitted him on 21 counts of tax fraud. He was facing the prospect of not merely losing his professional license but spending the rest of his life in prison.
Although the case had a happy ending, it was a years-long ordeal for the accused. The case reveals the powers of the government and the extreme lengths the IRS will go to in prosecuting alleged tax crimes.
A Texas appeals court has thrown out the drug conviction of a man who was pulled over on the shaky excuse of being tardy in signaling a lane change.
The appellate court said that the trumped-up traffic violation did not justify a traffic stop and warrantless vehicle search that ultimately led to the man being sentenced for cocaine possession.
Tasers were supposed to be a non-lethal alternative to firearms. But more than 1,000 American citizens have died when police used stun guns on them.
The Reuters news agency tracked Taser-related deaths across the United States over the last two decades. The report is a “shocking” expose of how dangerous stun weapons can be even in the hands of trained law enforcement.
Attorney Ryan L. Beasley is representing Lisa Houston, the Upstate teacher who lost her job following the viral video of a mischaracterized classroom episode.
Recognized as one of the top 75 DUI Attorneys in South Carolina by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense, LLC (NAFDD) 2013
