Consent Standards in Rape and Sexual Assault Cases

Most laws, and most criminal cases, revolve around the question – where do we draw the line between acceptable behavior and non-acceptable behavior? That question is rarely black and white. There are often gray areas in-between for different reasons: the law isn’t clear, so there are exceptions to every rule. Sometimes, the legislature changes the…

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The Use of Diversion Programs in the Criminal Justice System

The Baltimore Sun recently reported that Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison released a sweeping crime plan which includes new deployment strategies, plans for improved technology, and other initiatives to help reduce violence. The plan includes a variety of ideas including: Fast response times for priority calls where life or property is endangered Micro-zones to focus…

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Why You Need a Lawyer for a First-Time DUI Charge

It used to be that judge might cut a break for a first-time DUI charge. That just isn’t the case anymore. In Maryland, anyone who is charged with a DUI is looking at possible jail time, court fines and penalties, license suspension, and increased insurance premiums. A skilled DUI defense lawyer will fight aggressively to…

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Before You Flush Your Drugs, Think of the Animals

The Loretto Police Department in Tennessee took the rare step of posting a warning on their Facebook page that trying to flush your drugs down the toilet to avoid arrest probably isn’t the best idea. According to a story in Buzzfeed, a suspect flushed his methamphetamine and several paraphernalia items down the toilet after he…

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Convicted Sex Abuser’s 150-Year Sentence Will Not Be Overturned

The Sonoma News reported on July 15, 2019, that a Sonoma Valley California man’s appeal of a 150-year sentence will not be overturned. A 71-year old man claimed that his age and the lower court’s decision to allow an additional four alleged victims to testify against him were grounds for appeal. The defendant/convict was a…

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Listen to Your Late Aunt Whitney: Crack is Whack

CBS4 in Miami shared an interesting story recently about a man who swallowed 20 rocks of crack and then led police on a wild chase that ended in the Florida Keys. The suspect, Mark Edward Welch (50), led multiple law enforcement agencies on a wild chase that ended in the Upper Keys in the middle…

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Baltimore Police Officer Led Ring of Crooked Cops

An investigative piece published by the Baltimore Sun in June 2019 describes a Baltimore police officer who led a ring of crooked cops as he led a double life. The officer, Wayne Jenkins, was in charge of the Gun Trace Task Force when he began handling drug deals on the side and robbing people they…

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A New Kind of Gators Fan

The Miami Herald reported on May 6, 2019, that Florida police were conducting a routine traffic work near Tamiami Trail when they saw a pickup truck run through a stop sign. They stopped the truck at the ungodly hour of 3:30 am in the morning. The Florida deputy who stopped the truck asked the male…

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