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,
Read MoreWhat is the Process for Sentence Modification in Maryland?
In October, many of the provisions of the Justice Reinvestment Act (JRA) take effect. This extensive revision of Maryland criminal law means that certain mandatory minimum drug sentences may qualify for a retroactive reduction. The JRA “eliminates mandatory minimums for controlled dangerous substances felonies.” It also permits felony drug offenders – although not those considered
Read MoreWhat Happens When a Violation of Probation 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
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 MoreInfluence of Genetics within the Criminal Mind
Steven Spielberg’s 2002 film Minority Report, set in 2054, focuses on the PreCrime division of a police department. The PreCrime Unit’s job is stopping crimes before they occur. That’s now just 37 years in the future, and it is possible that sci-fi thriller accurately portrays the future. The answer may lie in genetic testing. Society
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 MoreCommon Mistakes Made by Police Officers During an Arrest
There are many common mistakes made by the police during arrests. The infographic above discusses some of those mistakes, so you can be aware of how to combat them in a criminal case. No probable cause – Oftentimes, officers make their arrests based on suspicion, but it is not based on probable cause. Walking
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
Read MoreWhat are the Average and Maximum Jail Times for Common Crimes?
When you or a loved one are facing charges, the first question on your mind may be, “How much jail time will I have to serve?” Unfortunately, it changes from violation to violation, and is also often different based on your state. Each crime, whether misdemeanor or felony, may carry a prison term. Violations have
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