Criminal law

If you are facing assault charges, pleading self-defense seems like the most obvious thing to do. After all, you have a right to defend yourself in the face of imminent danger. However, you ought to know about other aspects of a self-defense plea beforehand. Two main...

The police stopped you for not making a complete stop at a stop sign. When the officer asked for your license, registration and insurance card, you only gave them the license and registration.  You have not had vehicle insurance for a few months. The penalties can be...

All it takes is the mere allegation of sexual abuse to tear a family to pieces and destroy the life of the accused. When the allegations are false, the target of the allegations is often left mystified about why they are being targeted. Understanding why children and...

There’s a saying in criminal law: It’s not what the prosecutor knows (or thinks that they know), it’s what they can prove. The facts of a case and the evidence they can find to prove those facts are what actually matter. What happens, however, when the facts are in...

White collar crimes may be nonviolent, but they carry hefty punishments. Such crimes include embezzlement, fraud and money laundering, among others. Given that most of these white collar crimes are considered felonies, facing charges means that you may be facing some...

Many people accused of criminal offenses decide to plead guilty. A guilty plea means you don't have to go through the stress of a trial. However, it will mean that you have a criminal record.  One mistake from your past could potentially haunt you for the rest of your...

People often associate the crime of solicitation with prostitution. The people who pay others to engage in prostitution are guilty of solicitation. However, solicitation can apply to virtually any type of crime.  To be guilty of solicitation, a person must request,...

Securing a good job can be challenging, so you need to avoid destroying your hard work by mixing your business and personal life. If your company accuses you of embezzlement, you could lose your job and face criminal charges. If convicted, it will make getting another...

Most people who get pulled over by the police in North Carolina will just receive a traffic ticket because of their driving actions. The officer might issue a citation for exceeding the speed limit, not using a turn signal at an intersection or rolling through a...

There are many components that work together in the criminal justice system, but some only play a role in specific cases. The grand jury is one of these that isn’t part of every case. However, it’s very important in others. Understanding the role of the grand jury is...