Does Sending the offender a Cease and Desist Letter stop the Harassment?
While Maryland’s harassment laws do not require the victim to formally request the harasser to stop by letter, some documentation goes a long way in establishing your displeasure with the offender’s actions—hence the cease and desist letter- often at a lower cost than hiring an attorney to pursue other actions.
What is a cease […]
How Social Stigma Silences Domestic Violence Victims
Reprinted with permission from the author: Wendy Patrick, Esquire, PhD.
Many domestic violence victims suffer in silence. Enduring a steady pattern of abuse and humiliation at home, they bravely attempt to present a solid exterior […]
New Rules for Peace and Protective Orders in Maryland during COVID-19
The on-going situation with COVID-19 has changed the way Maryland courts are handling restraining orders. Learn more about how it impacts you and what changed about the process here.
Facts You Should Know Before You File A Protective Order in Maryland
If you have been abused by a family member or someone with whom you are in a romantic relationship, you are eligible to file a Petition for Protective Order against the person responsible for the abuse. While filing the Petition itself may seem straightforward, there are a few things you may not know about the legal process. Learn more about the process here.
What You Should Do If You Cause a Car Accident
If you are involved in a car accident, it can be a stressful event. There are certain basic steps you should take when it first happens. Learn what to do and what not to do here.
Can a Driving While Under the Influence Conviction Prevent My Citizenship?
If you are an immigrant, after you are convicted of a DUI you may be wondering if it will impact your chances of citizenship. While it is still possible to become a citizen with a DUI charge, you will be required to prove to that you are still a person with “good moral character.”
Felony vs. Misdemeanor Charges in Maryland
If you are charged with a felony in the State of Maryland, the general rule implies that you are facing at least one year of potential jail time for the charge, while misdemeanor charges usually carry a maximum in jail of one year or less. However, due to changes by the Maryland General Assembly, some crimes no longer fall within the general rule and some misdemeanors carry longer sentences than felonies.
For Protective and Peace Orders, Maryland Law Provides for a Cooling Off Period Between the Parties
Whether you’re the person filing for a protective order (Petitioner) or the person against whom the Protective Order is filed (Respondent), Maryland law gives the parties a period of up to six months to decide whether to seek a final protective order or to dismiss the case, if they choose to. This window often serves as a golden opportunity for the parties to enter into discussions to attempt to settle some of their outstanding differences. Find out more about this cooling off period in this post.
Some of the Ways in Which Marijuana and Other Drugs are Sent in the Mail
With the legalization of marijuana in places like Colorado and its decriminalization elsewhere, more marijuana is now being shipped through the U.S. mail than in recent years, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, whose seizures of marijuana parcels have increased by more than 400 percent since 2007.
Body Camera Use by Law Enforcement in Maryland
The creation of body cameras has added a new and helpful additional weapon to law enforcement as well as criminal defense work. No longer will any of us have to rely solely upon witness accounts of criminal activity. Learn More.
Hiring a Lawyer for Your Criminal or DUI / DWI Case
While the answers to questions you ask your lawyer will vary widely, it is important to keep in mind that nothing should be taken as a guarantee. Instead, these questions should give you some general knowledge of a specific lawyer's experience and skill-level, and whether the lawyer is a good fit for you. Learn More
Supreme Court News on Criminal Law in Rockville
On June 23, 2016, the Supreme Court decided the case of Birchfield v. North Dakota. As we described in our previous blog on criminal law, the Court in Birchfield took up the issue of whether under the United States Constitution, a state can punish someone by suspending their right to drive simply because they refused to take a blood or breath. Learn More.
Police Use Cell Phone Tracking Technology in Maryland
With the pervasiveness of cell phones, police are using GPS coordinates for cell phone tracking and to track the location of crime suspects. However, in their zeal to make arrests, the police have been secretly and illegally using high tech equipment to locate suspects in a wide range of cases, including murder, robbery, and drug-related offences.
Effect of a Conviction on Your Professional License
Did you know that if you are charged with a crime, the outcome of your case may have a direct bearing on your ability to practice your profession, if your profession requires that you possess a professional license in Maryland?
Supreme Court to Hear New Case on DUI’s
Using a federal law known as the implied consent law, police are getting around the search warrant requirement by coercing suspects into consenting to a blood test when they are charged with violating DUI laws on federal property: something police may find to be faster and easier than obtaining a warrant.
Police Use Spying Technology Behind Court’s Back
With the pervasiveness of cell phones, police are using GPS coordinates of cell phones to track the location of crime suspects. However, in their zeal to make arrests, the police have been secretly and illegally using high tech equipment to capture criminals. Learn More
Event Data Recorder – The Factory Installed Black Box in Your Car
Most of you know that planes contain black boxes that record in-flight data, such as aircraft speed and trajectory. But did you know that your car is probably quipped with a black box too? Learn More
Can Police Force You to Reveal Your Cellphone Passcode?
Most people protect their phones by using cellphone passcodes. But what if police seize your phone and demand that you provide them with the passcode, do you have to give it to them?
What is Citizen’s Arrest and is it Real?
"Citizen's arrest" is a concept that often appears in movies and TV series, but leaves many wondering if it is an actual legal principle. A citizen's arrest is a real concept and it is legal in all states except North Carolina.
Maryland’s Revenge Pornography Statute
The non-consensual sharing of nude photographs of an ex romantic partner on the Internet is commonly known as revenge pornography, and is a terrible tactic resorted to by spurned ex-lovers.
DUI Checkpoints – What You Need To Know
DUI checkpoints, otherwise known as sobriety checkpoints, are an exception to the usual rules that police must follow when engaging with members of the public. Police may stop and question a driver at a DUI checkpoint without having any suspicion that the driver is committing a crime.
Expunging your Criminal Record – What is Expungement
In Maryland, shielding, sealing, and expungement can be used to remove a record of events like an arrest or a prosecution from your court records.
Citizens’ Right to File Criminal Charges
By Maya Kushner, Esq. and Marc Emden, Esq.
What steps can you take to enforce your rights if a crime is committed against you? When one falls victim to a crime, most people report the incident to the police, which is always an advisable first step. Usually, the police create an incident report, […]
Black Box: Your Car’s Dark Secret
Most of you know that planes have black boxes that record in-flight data such as aircraft speed and trajectory. But did you know that your car probably has a black box too? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 96% of model year 2013 and newer cars already have a black box, or an Event Data Recorder (EDR) as it is known, and NHTSA is proposing a rule to make EDRs a requirement.
DUI Checkpoints
Police officers must follow specific rules when they engage members of the public, so you may ask yourself if this applies at DUI checkpoints. Learn More.