Expert witnesses play a critical role in criminal trials, providing specialized knowledge to help the court understand complex evidence and issues beyond the average person's understanding. Despite being hired by one side of the litigation, they must be impartial and objective because they are bound by professional and ethical standards to base their testimony strictly on their professional expertise. What do expert witnesses do in criminal trials? Here’s a breakdown of the key functions of [...]

The bail process in Maryland involves several steps to determine whether a defendant can be released from custody while awaiting trial and under what conditions. Here’s a general overview of how it works: Arrest and initial detention: After an arrest, the defendant is typically taken to a police station, booked, and held until a bail hearing can be scheduled. Bail hearing: This is usually the defendant's first court appearance after an arrest. The hearing often [...]

A new website has recently been created in Maryland to help identify and combat hate crimes across the state. This website has raised concerns and curiosity about the implications of being accused of a hate crime. Accusations of hate crimes are serious, and in today's society, individuals are often presumed guilty by the public, even without evidence. If you have been accused of committing a hate crime in Bowie, Dunkirk, or anywhere else in Maryland, [...]

Maryland recently passed two bills that would regulate how law enforcement officers use facial recognition technology during investigations of certain types of crimes. The bills elaborate and describe various requirements for facial recognition, which are said to be the strongest in any state across the United States. These new rules and regulations are being put in place at a time when facial recognition has become a big part of policing. The hope is that the [...]

Trust and confidentiality are crucial when working with a criminal defense attorney in Bowie or Dunkirk. Certain discussions during the legal process require a high level of privacy, and attorney-client privilege works to protect this confidentiality. Attorney-client privilege is important because, without it, clients would be afraid to speak openly with their lawyers, which could make it more challenging to build a strong defense. The law is clear, and courts take it seriously, so with [...]

Most serious criminal cases (where a prison sentence is likely after conviction) are decided by juries. Juries are generally chosen from the community where the defendant lives. In state court cases, juries are chosen from the county where the defendant lives. In federal cases, the jurors are chosen from several nearby counties. Since jurors decide the fate of a defendant, it’s critical to understand what a juror does. Once the jurors are chosen in criminal [...]

Many Maryland workers need to obtain security clearances to view and handle classified documents as part of their job. The loss of the proper security clearance can mean the loss of your job. A criminal record may affect your security clearance. Often, the best way to keep your security clearance is to obtain a dismissal of the criminal charges, an acquittal, or a plea bargain to a lesser offense that won’t jeopardize your security clearance. [...]

When a car accident happens in Maryland, the police should be called to the scene of the accident. The police clear traffic, obtain each driver’s relevant information (driver’s license, insurance policies, and other information), and tend to anyone who is injured; then, they’ll investigate how the accident happened. If the police believe a crime occurred, they may arrest the driver at the scene. There are many different types of criminal charges that can be filed, [...]