The image of one blowing into a handheld breath testing device on the side of the road is the near-universal representation of a drunk driving charge. Thus, having authorities in North Carolina using the results of such a test as evidence against you may seem as...
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Mandatory minimum reform in North Carolina
Established in the 1980s and 1990s, mandatory minimum sentencing removes discretionary power from judges. In many cases, this leads to long jail sentences, even for first time and nonviolent offenders. As a result, our prison population boomed, and law enforcement has...
Diversion programs, rehabilitation and drug crimes
The rise of the opioid crisis and the revelations about our national drug policy’s impact on poor communities and communities of color has meant a radical shift in thinking on drug crime. This is directly related to North Carolina’s shift toward alternatives to...
The trend of exoneration and identifying the problem
In North Carolina and throughout the country, there is an increase in exonerations for those who have been wrongfully convicted. Many spent years and even decades in prison for crimes they did not commit. As technology advances and old cases are re-examined, Time...
How do I get a presidential pardon?
Once you have a criminal conviction, you carry that with you the rest of your life. There are very limited ways to remove the consequences of a conviction in North Carolina, and you may suffer the consequences even after you complete your court-imposed sentence. One...
Facing heroin-related charges? Understand your case.
While you may have reason to have some controlled substances in your possession legally, such as having a prescription for a narcotic, federal and state laws make it illegal to possess other substances at all. If police suspect that you unlawfully have a drug in your...
Challenging forensic evidence against you
For centuries, fingerprints have been a form of identification because of their supposedly unique marks. Parents may register fingerprints of their children in case they become lost, and more modern technology uses fingerprints as a method of securing personal...
Why is a search warrant for your home so important?
Hollywood usually depicts suspects asking investigators if they have a search warrant before just letting officers enter their homes. Movies and television may have gotten this one right. If you are like most North Carolina residents, then you probably don't fully...
What factors could impact a drug trafficking case?
Facing any type of criminal charge can be a substantial setback in your life. You may think that you understand your initial charge, but you may later find out that you actually face more serious allegations than first believed. It is common for certain types of...
Understanding the concept of “self-defense”
There may come a time when you feel your life is truly in danger. Someone may break into your home, a fight may break out at a party, or you could face some other situation in which you must defend yourself or risk losing your life. In those moments, you may have to...