5-Year-Old Killed by Mom’s Boyfriend After Being Forced Out of the Car
A tragic accident in Alabama took the life of a five-year-old boy. A Russell County Sheriff told CBS News that the boy was forced to exit the car he was riding in on a busy highway as punishment for ‘acting up.’ The child has been identified as Austin Birdseye. He was riding in the car…
Read MoreTeen Magicians Arrested, Strip Searched, and Detained
In one of the more shocking news stories of the year, teen siblings who found fame on America’s Got Talent were detained, strip searched, and forced to spend a night in a juvenile detention center. The teens, 15 and 13, were arrested by police in Louisiana in November for refusing to leave their father and…
Read MoreMaryland Hate Crime Statistics for 2019
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently released is 2019 hate crimes statistics, and Maryland had 19 hate crime incidents recorded in 2019. Hate crimes are separated into multiple categories based on the type of incident, location, and agency reporting the crimes. The data was provided by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. The…
Read MoreWhat Is a Blood Alcohol Content Level?
Blood alcohol content level (BAC) is the measuring stick for determining whether a driver is considered impaired. The legal limit across the country is 0.08%, which means that you will undoubtedly be arrested and charged with DUI when your BAC reaches that percentage or higher levels. Despite the laws stating 0.08% as the legal limit,…
Read MoreThe Science Behind Uncredible Witnesses
On November 17, 2020, Circuit Judge Stacy McCormack ruled that Darius Devon Mackell was not guilty of murder, robbery, and firearms charges stemming from the death of Dontae Simmons in 2018. Judge McCormack absolved Mackell of those charges in part because she did not find the prosecution’s witness credible. Per The Baltimore Sun, Judge McCormack…
Read MoreCocaine, FedEx, and Baltimore’s Own Version of “The Sting”
In Mid-November, a DEA agent – dressed up like a FedEx driver – dropped off a package of cocaine at home in Baltimore. A woman answered the door and accepted the package, so police started planning to get a search warrant. Before the warrant could come through, The Baltimore Sun reports, police “said a man,…
Read MoreHow a Glen Burnie Man Admitted to Murder but Avoided Prison
There is an old trope in film and television about pleading “insanity” to go free from a murder case. In Maryland, claiming that a client is “not criminally responsible” is a tough row to hoe, and it is not used all that often. Which is why the murder case of Tyrique Hudson, and the subsequent…
Read MoreCan You Be Charged with a Crime if a Sudden Medical Emergency Leads to a Fatal Accident?
Most people take for granted that they can just hop into our car and get from one place to the other. Certain medical conditions, however, may bar certain individuals from doing that, because those conditions (or prescribed medications) make driving unsafe. However, a sudden medical emergency is often unexpected. A heart attack, a stroke, a…
Read MoreMaryland Has Officially Made Strangulation a Felony
Maryland lawmakers have increased the severity and penalties for charge of strangulation, making it a felony crime instead of a misdemeanor. This change coincided with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you have been charged with strangulation, you will face a tougher battle to retain your rights and freedoms. A special unit at Frederick Health Hospital…
Read MoreCould a Change in Maryland’s Hate Crime Law Affect Your Case?
On October 1, 2020, changes to Maryland’s hate crime laws went into effect, giving prosecutors a broader reach when it comes to obtaining a conviction. From now on, if you are charged with a hate crime in Maryland, prosecutors no longer have to link your actions to hate alone. This is going to make for…
Read MoreChadwick Boseman Died without a Will – What Happens Next?
On August 28, 2020, actor Chadwick Boseman, best known for the blockbuster movie “Black Panther,” died of colon cancer at age forty-three. His death came as a shock to fans and the general public, due to his young age and the fact that he kept his illness and medical treatments private. Shortly before his death,…
Read MoreHow Does Jurisdiction Work?
The Constitution of the United States delineates areas of jurisdiction within the nation, allotting certain obligations and rights to both the federal government and state governments. Jurisdiction involves a court’s power to hear and adjudicate cases. Under criminal law, the imposition of punishment is connected with the proper jurisdiction. If a court does not have…
Read MoreOther Intoxicants That Can Lead to DUI or DWI Charges
Usually, when one hears the term “DUI arrest,” it is assumed the driver was under the influence of alcohol. However a DUI or DWI (driving while intoxicated) charge can also involve the consumption one of numerous types of substances that have the ability to impair the driving skills of an individual. In Maryland, you can…
Read MoreIs It Ever a Good Idea to Plead the Fifth?
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects individuals from self-incrimination. In other words, no person within the state of Maryland and throughout United States may be forced in any criminal matter to testify against himself or herself. This Amendment is in place to protect individuals, whether they are perfectly innocent or…
Read MoreExpunging a Juvenile’s Record in Maryland
Expungement is the action of the state to remove a police or court record of an individual from public view and inspection. Expungement may involve the relocation of the record to a secure area to prevent individuals who have no right to see the record from seeing it, or it may involve the destruction of…
Read MoreThe Two Breath Tests You May Encounter after a DUI Stop
When you get pulled over for DUI in Maryland, the police officer will likely ask you to step out of the car and perform a series of field sobriety tests. He or she may also ask you to breathe into a little machine. Then, if you are taken to the police station, you may be…
Read MoreMaryland Residents Are More Concerned about Safety than Other States’ Residents
For the last six years, SafeWise has compiled a list of the safest cities in each state. Their rankings are based on the FBI’s crime statistics data and population data from the US Census. This year, the 10 safest cities were: Taneytown Ocean Pines Hampstead Mount Airy Thurmont Centreville Glenarden District Heights Bowie Brunswick According…
Read MoreUnder the Shadow of COVID-19, the Right to a Speedy Trial Has Suffered Further
Under the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, every criminal defendant has the right to receive a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury. The same right is also guaranteed in many state constitutions and state laws. In recent years, the right to a speedy trial has fallen to the wayside,…
Read MoreMaryland Court of Appeals Says Smell of Marijuana Does Not Constitute Probable Cause
In order to be subjected to a search, police need probable cause; otherwise, it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment. For years, law enforcement officers in Maryland have used the odor of marijuana as their probable cause to search someone. The Maryland Court of Appeals issued another ruling recently that puts an end to…
Read MoreOverhaul of Campus Sexual Assault Standards Earns Praise from Some Scholars
Back in early May, the U.S. Department of Education issued a series of new standards that govern how educational institutions are to implement Title IX. These revamped regulations are a complete overhaul from the previous administration’s regulations as it concerns policies and procedures about sexual assault and harassment allegations. Universities and other institutions of learning…
Read MoreNew Learning Collaborative Intended to Reduce DUI Injuries and Deaths in Maryland
Driving under the influence is a serious criminal charge. If convicted, individuals face significant fines, loss of driving privileges, and time spent in jail. The seriousness with which the state of Maryland considers these offenses is reflected in its recent announcement – through the Department of Transportation in the state – that it will participate…
Read MoreCOVID-19 and Inmate Release Issues
The coronavirus pandemic has been sweeping across the nation over the last four months, including in jails and prisons in many states. In these facilities it is difficult in many cases to maintain proper social distancing between inmates. Due to these concerns, many politicians and advocates have promoted successfully the idea of releasing inmates, particularly…
Read MoreWhat Happens If I Get Arrested at a Protest?
Protests come in various sizes. Sometimes only a small handful of people gather holding signs, and at other times hundreds congregate and march down streets demanding certain changes in society. At times these protests involve certain individuals exhibiting disorderly conduct or breaking other laws. Depending on the type of demonstration involved, it is important to…
Read MoreMaryland Court of Appeals Recognizes New Cause of Action: Intentional Interference with an Inheritance or Gift
The Maryland Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, has recognized a new cause of action: intentional interference with an inheritance or gift. The action arose out of Barclay v. Castruccio (No. 30, Sept. Term 2019). The court held unanimously that claimants who file frivolous lawsuits against named beneficiaries of a will may…
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions about Parole in Maryland
Parole is a method for a prisoner to be released from prison before he/she has completed his/her full sentence. Parole is determined in Maryland by the Division of Parole and Probation. It is a way of reducing the prison population and rewarding good behavior in prison. Parole may be granted only after there is parole…
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