Criminal Defense

Police officers in Maryland and around the country often use portable breath testing devices to determine whether or not a motorist is impaired by alcohol, but blood must be drawn to establish drug use. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that law enforcement must obtain...

Some Maryland teenagers, particularly girls, may be at a greater risk of violence from an intimate partner than they or many people realize. Some experts expressed surprise over a study that appeared in "JAMA Pediatrics" in April 2019. It reported that almost 7...

In many cases, defendants can purchase their freedom while their cases are pending. However, there are times when an individual who has the opportunity to bail out of jail cannot afford to do so. This can have a significant impact on how cases in Maryland and...

People in Maryland and elsewhere in the United States age 26 and younger are more likely to get arrested than previous generations. This is what researchers discovered when conducting a study to evaluate arrest rates and patterns. In general, arrest rates are rising...

Jurors in Maryland and around the country play an important role in the American justice system. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has said that jurors are allowed to let their personal beliefs influence their thought process during a case. The case that...

The FIRST STEP Act, which President Trump signed into law in December 2018, was lauded by civil rights advocates in Maryland and around the country as a meaningful step toward a more equitable criminal justice system. The law offers relief to federal prisoners who...

Many criminal defense lawyers in Maryland and across the country have counseled their clients to use alphanumeric passcodes or passwords for their mobile devices. As people come to depend on their mobile devices for all aspects of their daily lives and communications,...

Most criminal defendants in Maryland will face misdemeanor charges. Although convictions on misdemeanors will not result in penalties as harsh as those for felony convictions, the long-term results could limit people's chances for employment as well as access to...

Legislation aimed at reforming parts of the criminal justice system passed the Senate 82-12 after revisions were made. It would allow some federal inmates from Maryland and other states to obtain a reduced sentence and other benefits. Those who work or participate in...

Politicians from Maryland and throughout the country have supported the First Step Act. If passed through Congress, the legislation would work to shorten federal prison sentences and alter rules that tend to unfairly harm minorities. For instance, it would make...