After an arrest, the police may want to question you. This could be a formal or an informal interrogation. They are trying to conduct their investigation and gather evidence for the case, even if you have not yet formally been charged. At this time, you have two...
The police can stop a vehicle if they believe the driver is inebriated. During that traffic stop, the police may try to collect evidence to support their belief (and justify an arrest)by asking the driver to perform standardized field sobriety tests. Standardized...
Driving while impaired (DWI) charges are relatively common. People may face DWI allegations after a traffic stop or a collision. Depending on the circumstances, penalties can range from fines and driver's license suspension to jail time. There are multiple different...
Evidence gathered by police officers is often the cornerstone of a criminal case. The forensic evidence, financial records or contraband located by police officers and other investigators can help prove the claim that a person broke the law. Police officers have an...
For many criminal defendants, success is synonymous with a not-guilty verdict. However, taking a case to trial is lengthy, costly and unpredictable. Researchers have found that the vast majority of criminal cases result in a guilty plea, often accompanied by a plea...
False convictions are one thing that the criminal justice system is set up to avoid. This is why the standard of proof is so high in a criminal case. A person’s guilt needs to be demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt. That means it is some guilty parties will go free...
Many drivers are arrested for driving while impaired (DWI) offenses because they failed tests after car crashes or during traffic stops. Others may end up prosecuted due to mass enforcement efforts. DWI checkpoints, also sometimes called sobriety roadblocks, allow...
Police officers are agents of the state. As such, there are numerous laws and constitutional protections that limit their legal authority. These protections exist to prevent abuses of power and inappropriate criminal charges. Anyone taken into state custody generally...
The cold weather that currently has most of the United States firmly in its grip can create plenty of hazards for drivers. One that many North Carolinians might not consider is how inclement weather conditions increase the likelihood of driving while intoxicated...
You are at home one afternoon when you are surprised to see a police car pull up in front of the house. The officer walks up to the door, knocks, and asks if they can come inside and take a look around. What do you do in this situation? You may never have had any...
