by Michelle Sparrow | May 25, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Misdemeanors
We are talking about mental illness and a new national initiative called “Stepping Up: A National Initiative to Reduce the Number of People with Mental Illnesses in Jails.” The initiative asks county and city governments across the country to commit to... by Michelle Sparrow | May 22, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Misdemeanors
We are talking about jails and the incarceration of people with mental illness. This isn’t the first time we’ve broached the subject: We wrote about it in a series of posts (American jails have become de facto psychiatric facilities) — in 2011. Have... by Michelle Sparrow | May 20, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Drug Charges
Stories about drug conspiracies are common news items in North Carolina. Just recently, six men were charged by federal prosecutors in Charlotte with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, cocaine and heroin. Five of the six defendants face life in prison if convicted,... by Michelle Sparrow | May 18, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Drunk Driving
Spring is an exciting time for high school students across North Carolina, particularly juniors and seniors. If they haven’t done so already, most schools will be hosting prom in the next week or so. And of course, graduation is just around the corner. If you... by Michelle Sparrow | May 9, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Misdemeanors
The last time we thought about the concept of drunk tanks, we were watching an episode of “The Andy Griffith Show.” Andy, as you may recall, was the sheriff of Mayberry, North Carolina, a small town with more mischief than crime. The jail had two cells,...