Anyone who has been arrested for committing a criminal offense must be taken before the judge for arraignment. This is the first formal court appearance a defendant makes when facing criminal charges.  During the arraignment, the judge will read out the offense the...

A minor in possession (MIP) charge is typically used when a young person is found to be in possession of alcohol. No one is legally allowed to buy or possess alcohol until they are 21 years of age or older, but many high school and college students find ways to access...

If you stay under the legal limit (a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%) does that mean you can’t get charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI)? After all, the limit exists so that the courts can assume you were impaired. If you’re under it, wouldn’t...

You don’t deal with the police often, so you’re nervous when they pull up in the driveway. One of the officers comes to the door and asks to come inside.  You know that a search warrant means officers can enter your home even if you tell them that you’d rather they...

After Memorial Day, the police are on high alert for DUIs. Of course, they look for drunk drivers at any time of the year, but with the increase in travel, parties and events, summer is a time when there are more people to monitor. Whether it is due to boating or...

Many individuals have heard the terminology "reckless driving" thrown around to describe various ways someone may operate a vehicle. Few realize that it's an actual criminal offense and that it's a term only used to describe a handful of ways in which someone may...

The most likely circumstance under which someone will interact with police officers is when they're driving down the road in their vehicle. However, what seems like a stop for a relatively minor traffic offense can turn into a motorist's arrest on drug charges if the...

You have probably heard that you have a right to remain silent as an American citizen. The ability to avoid self-incrimination is a hallmark of the justice system in this country. If you watch police TV shows and movies, they often start reciting the Miranda Rights --...

A criminal record can hold you back for decades. A single assault conviction or drug possession charge could limit your educational and employment opportunities. Expungements are the legal process that allows people to seal the record of previous legal issues to move...

To many people, the idea that “drugs are addictive” is simply a given. They assume that all drugs pose a risk of addiction that can later lead to substance abuse and other problems. They may be surprised by what they find. For instance, marijuana is generally thought...