by Michelle Sparrow | Feb 24, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Violent Crimes
We came across a blog post once that began, “It is unpleasant to be charged with a sex crime.” It is a true statement, certainly, but it fell a little short of the typical lead-in to a discussion of such a difficult and sensitive subject. Yes, it can be... by Michelle Sparrow | Feb 23, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Violent Crimes
We are still discussing — and still very much thinking about — the domestic abuse public service announcement that aired during the Super Bowl. Sponsored by the nonprofit No More and, incongruously, the NFL, the ad uses an actual 911 call. The 911 operator... by Michelle Sparrow | Feb 16, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Violent Crimes
We realize we are a little slow to get to the water cooler with our post-Super Bowl rundown. The game aired Feb. 1 and managed to keep viewers’ interest to the last. But chat about the game is not the only thing that offices buzz about the day after: The ads are... by Michelle Sparrow | Feb 8, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Drug Charges
College can be an exciting and educational time in any student’s life. For many young people, it marks the first time they will be away from their parents and living on their own. It is very common for kids in this situation to take advantage of their new-found... by Michelle Sparrow | Feb 7, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Sex Crimes
State and federal law enforcement agents are very aggressive when it comes to allegations of sexual assault, statutory rape, child pornography and other similar offenses. If you are under investigation for a sex crime or have already been charged, you likely... by Michelle Sparrow | Feb 6, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Drunk Driving
In our last blog post, we examined some of the different tests that police officers use to try and measure intoxication after pulling a driver over. As we mentioned in that blog post, which can be read here, you will likely be asked to take a number of different tests... by Michelle Sparrow | Feb 5, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Drunk Driving
We often read stories about people who are pulled over and display fairly obvious signs of intoxication, from extremely slurred speech, incoherence and an inability to stand without help. But these drivers typically are found to be far above the legal limit and likely... by Michelle Sparrow | Jan 25, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Violent Crimes
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of three inmates on Oklahoma’s death row. They are challenging the use of the sedative midazolam in that state’s lethal injection executions. In theory, the drug renders the inmate unconscious in an... by Michelle Sparrow | Jan 20, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Violent Crimes
A group of North Carolina public defenders rallied in Charlotte just a couple of days shy of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. What brought them together was a common belief that the criminal justice system across the country is plagued by racial bias,... by Michelle Sparrow | Jan 18, 2015 | Criminal Law Blog, Drug Charges
Our readers are, or at least should be, aware that officers don’t have free reign to investigate criminal activity. In fact, officers must always have some legally justifiable basis to stop and question a suspect, to stop a vehicle, to conduct a search, or to make an...