Maryland’s Prison Populations Drops to a 30 Year Low

The Baltimore Sun reported in April that Maryland’s prison population had fallen to 17,815. It was the first time the prison population was below 18,000 in 30 years. Over the last 10 years, the number of prisoners has dropped by nearly 30%.  The statistics were compiled by the Vera Institute of Justice, which analyzed data…

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What Is Due Process?

Due process: it’s a phrase we often hear, but most people have little idea what it means. In the most general way, due process is a fairness doctrine, aimed at protecting the rights and liberties of both the accused and the accuser in a court of law. For many, due process has become synonymous with…

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New Maryland Bill Aims to Help Victims of Sex-Trafficking Expunge Their Criminal Records

A new bill aims to help victims of sex-trafficking help clear their names so their convictions can’t be viewed by the public. Sex-trafficking often requires that the victims, many underage, commit other crimes such as drug crimes in addition to prostitution and sex-related offenses. Prior attempts to modify Maryland’s sex trafficking laws have been stymied.…

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Maryland’s Implied Consent Law for Suspicion of DUI

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Questions & Answers About Assault Charges in Maryland

If you’ve been charged with assault in Maryland, you may have many questions about the charges and the judicial process. The legal team here at Carey Law Office has put together some common and general questions and answers for your convenience, and we urge you to contact us if you need assistance. What are the…

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Is “Emoji Law” Actually a Thing?

The emoticon was born on September 19, 1982 when Professor Scott Fahlman of Carnegie Mellon suggested using the keyboard symbols 🙂 and 🙁 to express emotions online. This caught on, spread around the country, and eventually we were all using emoticons. However, beyond simple emojis like that, interpretations of other emojis can be rather subjective.…

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U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Excessive Fines & Property Seizures

On Wednesday, February 20, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled unanimously that states cannot impose excessive fees, fines, or forfeitures as criminal penalties. This decision clarifies that the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits excessive fines, applies to states as well as the federal government. The ability of authorities to seize private property used in…

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What Is a Federal DUI?

Most drivers who are charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics are charged with a state crime. Cases are heard in the county where the offense occurred or where the driver lives. There are some instances though where a driver can be accused of a federal DUI. Filing federal charges requires some…

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Baltimore Will No Longer Prosecute Possession of Marijuana Cases

The Baltimore Sun recently reported that Marilyn Mosby, the city’s state’s attorney, will no longer prosecute people for possessing marijuana, regardless of the amount of or their prior criminal history. Ms. Mosby also is asking the courts to vacate nearly 5,000 convictions for marijuana possession. She said the reason for this move is that she…

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What TV and Film Get Wrong about the Criminal Justice Process

If you are the defendant in a criminal case, you may have numerous questions involving the court process and the charges filed against you. To many defendants, interaction with the criminal justice system is brand-new, other than what they have seen over television or in a movie. The reality is very different from the make-believe,…

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False Accusations of Shoplifting Are More Common Than You Think

Retailers face a serious problem when it comes to shoplifting. The costs run into the billions of dollars per year. In order to get this lost money back, many companies have opted for aggressive legal tactics that leverage existing state laws. These efforts utilize questionable tactics to obtain restitution, and even pursue individuals who were…

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Expungement in Maryland

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Baltimore’s Homicide Rate Dips in 2018

Homicide rates in major cities across the U.S. appear to be on the decline this year after increasing over the last few years, according to a recent New York Times article. The report indicates that by the time statistics are available for the entire year, the murder rate should be about 4 to 5% lower…

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Streaming Movies: Is It Legal?

It happens so often: you want to see a certain movie but you can’t find it on Netflix or Redbox. If you don’t want to buy the movie, how else can you watch it? Many will choose to watch these movies online, free of charge. If you choose to do this, you need to know what’s legal and…

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Employee Spotlight: Nancy Carey

This month, Nancy Carey is the focus of our Employee Spotlight! A Certified Paralegal, Nancy has accumulated a diverse range of legal experience in Prince George’s County by working in the County Police Department, the Board of Elections, the County Attorney’s Office, as well as two private law firms. As our paralegal and law firm administrator, Nancy…

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Driving High: Dangerous or Harmless?

The fairly recent decriminalization of marijuana in Maryland has opened a discussion about the ways it could affect driving abilities. Plenty of people seem to believe that they are “better drivers” when high – that it simply causes people to drive more slowly and cautiously. So what’s the big deal? Is driving while high really that bad?…

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Three Myths About Sobriety Checkpoints

Sobriety checkpoints often occur on holidays, high-traffic weekends, and popular driving routes. This makes them common during the summer – but do you know what you do and don’t have to do if you’re stopped at a sobriety checkpoint? To help you out, we’ve addressed some common misconceptions that could get you in trouble.   If I…

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Beer and (Soccer) Balls

US fans everywhere have gone wild during the past two games against Ghana and Portugal. There are countless videos on YouTube documenting reactions to US goals, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K50b_dD3FE0#t=19 Looks familiar, right? Based on reactions from the past two games, the US v. Germany game tomorrow should trigger just as much insanity. While…

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