A crime committed as a juvenile does not always yield age-appropriate punishments. Sometimes crimes committed by juveniles can be tried in adult court. Virginia law defines when a juvenile can be punished as an adult and what offenses cause a juvenile to be tried as...
DUI convictions are very serious and could leave the alleged wrongdoer having to pay hefty fines, attend expensive classes or even put the accused behind bars. It is extremely important for the accused to put forth a strong defense in court. A strong defense...
The judicial system in the United States is set up so that defendants in criminal cases cannot face a conviction without being proven guilty. Mere presumptions that the allegations are true are not enough to convict someone. This point was recently demonstrated in a...
Many Virginia residents have probably heard the chart-topping songs by rapper Curtis Jackson, whose stage name is 50 Cent. They may not know, however, that he stands accused of committing domestic violence.Jackson recently plead not guilty to the charge of domestic...
Drugs are a hot political and social issue, frequently under debate for many reasons. Many people argue that the money and time spent on zealous enforcement of drug crimes is excessive and could be better spent on other crimes. Others argue that the drugs should never...
Just over one year ago, Virginia passed a new law requiring all drivers who are convicted of driving under the influence to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicles. According to a recent report by AAA, Virginia’s law appears to be effective so...
By all accounts, the widespread use of DNA evidence in criminal investigations has been a boon to prosecutors throughout the U.S. Experts suggest, however, that investigators and prosecutors may be relying too heavily on DNA analyses and other new forensic techniques,...
Attorneys for a 25 year old college student recently announced that their client will receive a $4.1 million settlement from the federal government after he was abandoned in a jail cell by Drug Enforcement Administration agents.In April 2012, Daniel Chong arrived at a...
Although Facebook and Twitter may not be the best venues for venting about a bad day at work, an argument with a friend or spouse, or other personal matters, it is normal for many teens in Virginia -- and even some adults -- to use social media to voice their feelings...
Criminal cases involving charges against Virginia residents who are accused of making or selling synthetic marijuana are often complex and may take several months to resolve. This is because folks may use a variety of chemicals to make synthetic marijuana, some of...