In our last post, we discussed the need for federal and state legislators to consider reforming sex offender registries. This issue is urgent and the need for reform of these registries is well documented. However, sex offender registries are not the only punishment-related systems in need of an overhaul. Many are currently questioning whether sentencing…

Because they are currently such a dominant force in the criminal justice system, it is difficult to imagine that Congress only began insisting that states create sex offender registries 20 years ago. Prior to 1994, states could opt to create these registries or refuse to do so without fear of consequence. Over the past 20…

The criminal justice system serves two primary functions. First, the system seeks to hold offenders accountable for breaking the law in an effort to serve justice and provide a deterrent for further wrongdoing. Second, the system seeks to protect the rights of those who have been accused and those who have been convicted of such…

Whether this is your first year of college or your fourth, you run a surprisingly high risk of being arrested sometime this year. For better and for worse, the college years tend to be a time when individuals tend to walk a tightrope between legal and illegal behavior simply by engaging in many of the…

A convenience store manager was recently arrested in Culpepper and accused of white collar crimes. The Virginia man has been accused of lottery fraud for allegedly activating the scratch-off tickets and keeping the prize money for himself. He faces six felony charges for his alleged crimes. The investigation was supposedly started by an internal security system…

If you have been charged with a sex-related criminal offense, you are likely concerned about the potential consequences you may have to face if you are convicted. It is worth noting that sex offenses are often highly specific and therefore result in a myriad of varying and nuanced consequences. In addition, different sex offenses may…

The Northwest Regional Drug Taskforce recently executed a drug raid in which multiple people were arrested. Eight Virginia residents were arrested after a search warrant was executed on a residence in Warren County. The investigators found an undisclosed amount of heroin and pills, and the authorities arrested each individual on varying drug possession charges as…

The tragic controversy currently unfolding in Ferguson is making many civil rights activists, legal experts and lawmakers question whether law enforcement officers should be broadly required to wear body cameras. The tapes contained within these cameras could prove invaluable to individuals compelled to mount a criminal defense in the wake of potentially unjust charges. They…

September is nearing. That means that teens and young adults all over the U.S. will be headed back to college within the coming weeks. The college years are often processed as a time for exploration. Students learn about themselves and their world as they study new subjects, meet new people and engage in new activities.…

Whether you have already been charged with driving under the influence or you simply want to know how to avoid being arrested for this offense, there are a few DUI-related terms that every American adult should be familiar with. These terms help to briefly explain important matters of DUI law. Understanding them will help you…