Criminal Defense

Many people automatically think about criminal cases that end in a trial or a plea agreement. There’s another option that happens sometimes – a pretrial diversion. This is an alternative to the traditional criminal justice process that allows people who are facing...

People who are facing criminal charges will sometimes be sentenced to serve probation. This requires them to report to a probation officer and comply with the terms of the program. These conditions are strict, but compliance is critical because failure to comply can...

Mandatory minimum sentences have been a contentious topic in the criminal justice system for decades. They require judges to impose a predetermined minimum sentence for certain offenses, regardless of the circumstances or the defendant's background. Proponents argue...

Visiting a loved one in jail can be an emotional experience, especially for children. They may feel confused, anxious or scared about the process. Adults preparing them for the visit can help ease their concerns and make the experience more positive. With the right...

Resisting arrest is one of the most warned-about behaviors for those facing arrest. This is because it can potentially lead to physical harm to the person being arrested (the arrestee), the police or anyone nearby. Additionally, it's an offense that can result in...

In Maryland, assisted suicide laws exist to prevent individuals from helping others end their lives, regardless of the circumstances. While some states have enacted medical aid-in-dying legislation, Maryland maintains strict prohibitions against any form of assisted...

Under the Fifth Amendment in the United States, you have the right to remain silent. You are not obligated to answer any questions that would incriminate you. This is true even if you’re in a court of law, and it’s also true during interactions with the police. For...

Although the criminal justice system is specifically set up to avoid them, we do know that false convictions happen. People have to pay fines or even spend time behind bars for crimes that they did not commit. Many of these people have maintained their innocence the...

The court has many different options to use when setting a sentence after a criminal conviction. In some cases, the court may opt to suspend all or part of a sentence. This allows the individual to avoid having to serve that particular sentence as long as they meet...

One of the primary thoughts a person has when they’re facing criminal charges is what sentence they’ll face if they’re convicted. In most cases, these defendants can find out a range of sentences that they receive, but it’s usually impossible to give a specific...