The prosecution relies on evidence to present a strong case. However, there are certain instances when the evidence against you can be excluded from your trial. The rules of evidence dictate the admissibility of evidence in court. Sometimes, not all evidence goes...
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Criminal Defense
The police in Virginia have a new excuse to pull you over
The police in Virginia need to suspect you of a primary traffic infraction to stop you on a public road. Pulling someone over is a major inconvenience and will affect their schedule, possibly even their employment. Police officers need to have a legal justification to...
Should you take a plea deal?
Being charged with a crime is a scary and overwhelming situation. Regardless of the charge, there are several important decisions you must make. Sometimes, the prosecution for your case may offer a plea bargain. Usually, the plea bargain comes with a lesser charge,...
A brief look at Virginia’s numerous trespassing laws
Virginia takes trespassing seriously. As a coastal state with miles of farmland, we have a number of statutes addressing trespassing on all kinds of property. We’re going to look at just a few key statutes here. Signage isn’t always required People often believe that...
What happens to confiscated illegal drugs?
When the police catch someone in possession of prohibited drugs or controlled substances for which they do not have a prescription, they will usually seize those drugs at the same time that they arrest the individual who possessed them. Often, what law enforcement...
Should you choose “house arrest” if you’re given the option?
The fact that many of our nation’s jails and prisons are seriously overcrowded can work to your advantage if you’re pleading guilty or have been found guilty of a nonviolent crime and aren’t determined to be a danger to the community. In Virginia, you may qualify for...
Can drinking too much play a role in your defense strategy?
When someone has too much to drink, they may wake up the next morning with a fierce sense of regret and a powerful hangover. Occasionally, the consequences of intoxication will include an arrest and criminal charges. People might make poor decisions after having too...
Do you understand the repercussions of jumping bail?
If you are indicted and charged with certain offenses, you may be freed on bail during the trial period. However, it is important to understand that bail comes with a set of conditions. And one of these is attending your court dates without fail. Failing to show up in...
When is it legal for the police to search your body?
You have the right to a certain expectation of privacy up to a certain point, even when interacting with law enforcement officers or subject to an investigation. There are limits to how aggressively the police can search you when they suspect that you may have broken...
Have you been accused of the spoliation of evidence?
If you’ve been accused of a crime, investigators may have searched your house for evidence. They may be trying to gather as much as they can to determine if you’re actually guilty or not. They already feel that they have some evidence if they’ve made the arrest, but...
