Marylandâs Prison Populations Drops to a 30 Year Low
The Baltimore Sun reported in April that Marylandâs 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…
Read MoreWhat Is Due Process?
Due process: itâs 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…
Read MoreThe Constitutional Right to Health Care that Only Prisoners Have
Constitutionally, citizens have no right to health care. There have been laws passed and programs instituted that give us access to healthcare, but for most of us, healthcare is an option, not a right â with one notable exception. The incarcerated. The New Yorker recently profiled a 30-year old named Jeremy Laintz whose fortunes turned…
Read MoreNew 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 canât 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 Marylandâs sex trafficking laws have been stymied.…
Read MoreMarylandâs Implied Consent Law for Suspicion of DUI
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Read MoreQuestions & Answers About Assault Charges in Maryland
If youâve 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…
Read MoreIs âEmoji Lawâ Actually a Thing?
The emoticon was born on September 19, 1982 when Professor Scott Fahlman of Carnegie Mellon suggested using the keyboard symbols đ and đ 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.…
Read MoreTraveling Internationally? That DUI Might Keep You Here in Maryland
When you are convicted of a DUI in Maryland, you will lose your license for a certain amount of time, based on your prior history and the circumstances of your conviction. Once you get your license back, however, you are generally free to travel wherever you wish to go â unless youâre planning a trip…
Read MoreJustices Gorsuch and Sotomayor Are Fighting for Your Right to a Trial
The Sixth Amendment to the US Constitution provides âIn all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the…
Read MoreU.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…
Read MoreWhat 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…
Read MoreBaltimore Will No Longer Prosecute Possession of Marijuana Cases
The Baltimore Sun recently reported that Marilyn Mosby, the cityâs stateâs 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…
Read MoreWhat 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,…
Read MoreFalse 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…
Read MoreExpungement in Maryland
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Read MoreBaltimoreâs 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…
Read MoreMotor Vehicle Administration Hearings After a DWI/DUI Arrest
Drivers who are charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) face many penalties if convicted. They can be sentenced to jail or prison (depending on the type of charge), and be forced to pay substantial penalties and fines. Their insurance rates can increase, or their coverage can be cancelled. They can…
Read MoreLegal Loopholes Allow Convicted DUI Drivers to Circumvent Ignition Interlock Law
The State. com reported in September 2018 that a South Carolina Law (called Emmaâs Law) that was meant to help force DUI offenders to prove sobriety before they could drive has not worked as planned. The law requires that anyone convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, whose blood alcohol content (BAC) level was…
Read MoreSexual Assault Charges Can Be Brought Years after an Alleged Offense
The Statute of Limitations is the time after which the government is prevented from charging someone with the commission of a crime. Most crimes have statutes of limitations for several reasons. There is concern that memories fade with time. Physical evidence may deteriorate with time. If cases arenât filed within the statute of limitations, the…
Read MoreMaryland Becomes Sixth State to Pass an Extreme Risk Protective Order
Maryland has become the 6th state to pass an Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) law. The law is in response to many different shootings throughout the country. The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence praised the new law, claiming it will remove guns from people who pose a danger to the public and themselves. Legislators and…
Read MoreStreaming Movies: Is It Legal?
It happens so often: you want to see a certain movie but you canât find it on Netflix or Redbox. If you donât 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 whatâs legal and…
Read MoreEmployee 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 Georgeâs County by working in the County Police Department, the Board of Elections, the County Attorneyâs Office, as well as two private law firms. As our paralegal and law firm administrator, Nancy…
Read MoreDriving 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 âbetter driversâ when high â that it simply causes people to drive more slowly and cautiously. So whatâs the big deal? Is driving while high really that bad?…
Read MoreThree Myths About Sobriety Checkpoints
Sobriety checkpoints often occur on holidays, high-traffic weekends, and popular driving routes. This makes them common during the summer â but do you know what you do and donât have to do if youâre stopped at a sobriety checkpoint? To help you out, weâve addressed some common misconceptions that could get you in trouble. If I…
Read MoreBeer 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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