What are the Three New House/Senate Bills for Anne Arundel, Maryland?
Since news outlets usually focus on international and national matters, it’s easy for new legislation on the county level to receive less attention than it deserves. In 2016, Governor Larry Hogan signed 106 bills into law, three of which specifically affect Anne Arundel county government. Senate Bill 47 Sponsored by Senator Bryan Simonaire, R-Pasadena, Senate
Read MoreWhat Happens When a Probation Violation Occurs in Maryland?
When a convicted person receives probation, they must adhere to the conditions imposed by the judge. Failure to do so can result in a violation. This could mean serving the jail time probation allowed them to avoid. Anyone charged with a probation violation needs an experienced probation lawyer. Common Probation Conditions The conditions placed on probation
Read MoreMaryland Sex Offenders in the Digital Age
We live in the digital age. The modern workplace mandates use of the internet. Life completely offline isn’t feasible for most people, and that includes Maryland’s approximately 8,000 convicted sex offenders. Sex offender rights include some forms of internet access, albeit with monitoring by law enforcement and prompt reporting by the offender of any change
Read MoreHow Is Mental Health and Criminal Law Handled in Maryland?
Attorneys often realize that clients arrested and charged with a criminal offense may suffer from mental illness. Maryland does not differ from other states in that many mentally ill people are put in jail rather than in hospitals, where they can receive proper treatment. It does differ from all but four other states in that
Read MoreNew Maryland Laws Regarding Stalking and Domestic Violence
Each year, the Maryland General Assembly passes new laws during their session which takes place from mid-January to mid-April, and 2016 was no different. Although the laws are passed in the Spring, many do not take effect for months after the fact. October 1st is one of the key dates where bills often take effect.
Read MoreHow the Justice Reinvestment Act Will Impact Criminal Law in Maryland
The Justice Reinvestment Act recently passed in Maryland with the objective of making substantial reforms to the state’s criminal justice system. One of the key themes of this Act is its prioritizing punishment and sentences for inmates based on the nature of the violence in their crimes. The purpose of this Act was to streamline
Read MoreNew Maryland Law: Property Seizure
Historically speaking, it was very difficult for the average American to imagine that their property could, in theory, be seized by police officers. Within the United States, there has been a preconceived notion that the state could never take property unfairly. Even though this is normally correct, one has to take into account the different
Read MoreConstructive Possession of Contraband
Constructive possession of contraband is different from simple possession. Contraband can be anything from drugs to firearms, and determining if someone possesses the contraband can be difficult. For instance, if the defendant is in a house that contains contraband, are they guilty of possession, even if the contraband isn’t theirs? It is difficult to determine
Read MoreCommon Mistakes Made by Police Officers During an Arrest
Being arrested can be a terrifying experience, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and confused about what is happening. However, it is important to remember that you have legal rights and that the police must follow certain procedures when making an arrest. Unfortunately, police officers sometimes make mistakes during the arrest process, which
Read MoreDrug Possession Statistics
Drug possession has become one of the largest crimes in the United States and is a small portion of the parent category: drug offenses. We’ve compiled and organized statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI for your convenience in relation to drug possession charges. Note: All of these statistics do not include
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