by Michelle Sparrow | Mar 23, 2013 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
If you are arrested for a violent crime in North Carolina that you did not commit, what are the chances you will be convicted anyway? A new study funded by the federal government and conducted by university researchers has identified 10 factors that wrongful... by Michelle Sparrow | Mar 23, 2013 | Criminal Defense, Criminal Law Blog
We are talking about a study of common factors in erroneous convictions. The researchers looked at data from the years 1980 to 2012 and identified 460 cases that resulted in wrongful convictions, acquittals or dismissals. Their analysis of those cases revealed 10... by Michelle Sparrow | Mar 14, 2013 | Criminal Law Blog, Drug Crimes
We are continuing our discussion of House Bill 29, currently under consideration by the North Carolina General Assembly. The bill would change methamphetamine crimes and sentencing in two ways. First, it would put a new crime on the books, a Class H felony for... by Michelle Sparrow | Mar 12, 2013 | Criminal Law Blog, Drug Crimes
The North Carolina General Assembly is considering a bill right now that will add a new drug crime and increase sentences for existing drug crimes under certain circumstances. House Bill 29, which relates specifically to methamphetamine, has cleared the House and is... by Michelle Sparrow | Mar 6, 2013 | Criminal Law Blog, Homicide
Since the Newtown shootings, public debate has focused on gun violence and mental health resources. That tragedy and others have pointed out that neither the government nor the health care sector has figured out the best way to help people with mental illness before...