A DWI is a serious criminal offense that can affect your finances, reputation and employment. Some of the consequences for drinking and driving can include the requirement to pay a large fine, spend time in jail or license suspension. According to the New York State...
When can authorities search your car during a traffic stop?
During a traffic stop in New York, the law enforcement officer who pulls you over may ask if he or she may look around your vehicle. While, in some cases, you may have to allow the search to take place, in others, you have the right to refuse the officer’s request....
What happens during an appeal?
If you have a criminal conviction, you may be able to appeal. Appealing your case means that you seek the opinion of a higher court to overturn or change the outcome of your original case. One thing to note about appealing a case is it does not give you a new trial....
What are the different kinds of plea bargains?
You are likely familiar with the term “plea bargain” if you have ever watched a crime drama show. However, it is also important to understand what a plea bargain is in the actual criminal justice system. There are more subtleties to it than what you see on television....
When does police solicitation go too far?
If you face criminal charges after an officer solicits you to commit a crime, you may wonder whether the court can count the charges as fair. Did the officer commit a crime him or herself? According to the United States Department of Justice, a crime's inducement...
A few important limitations of eyewitness testimony
Many people believe that eyewitness testimony provides the most compelling evidence in a court of law. While this holds true in some cases, in other situations the words of a witness to an alleged crime can seem weak under cross-examination, especially in connection...
How do your Miranda rights protect you after your arrest?
If law enforcement officers arrest you and take you into custody, they must “read you your rights,” i.e., inform you of your Miranda rights, before they interrogate you. MirandaWarning.org explains that these rights consist of the following: You have the right to...
Binge drinking, underage drivers and the potential for crashes
The zero-tolerance policy is in force everywhere in the U.S. When behind the wheel, the young driver in your family cannot have any alcohol in his or her system. Unfortunately, underage drivers are more likely than adults to binge drink, and many drive with a high...
Federal government changes its harsh drug policy
In 1971, President Richard Nixon announced what would become a decades-long war on drugs. This war sent thousands of Americans to prison simply for possessing small amounts of controlled substances. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, the war on drugs had little...
Should you talk about your arrest on social media?
Social media seems to be more than a passing trend. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, roughly 70% of Americans use online platforms to maintain contact with family members, friends and followers. Depending on your social media usage, it even may help you...
