Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “If I am charged by campus police could I still face jail time or probation?” It’s something relatively few people have experienced (thankfully), but if and when you do, the practice likely comes as a terrible surprise. Police, unbeknownst to many,…
Articles Posted in Criminal Defense
Plea Bargaining and Criminal Law
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question:”What is an expungement?” When most people think of the criminal justice system, they likely imagine something similar to an episode of Law & Order. Police officers testifying, prosecutors and defense attorneys arguing, judges slamming gavels and jurors listening in rapt attention.…
When is a hate crime not a hate crime?
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?” When most people think of hate crimes they imagine criminal acts that occur because one person was motivated by a particular animus against the victim. This animus can be based on…
Editorial Proposes Radical Idea To Reduce Police Violence: Decriminalize Traffic Violations
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?” When most people think about their last interaction with a police officer it almost always involves a traffic stop. A person was speeding or not wearing a seat belt or ran a red…
Incarceration Reimbursement
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “If I am charged by campus police could I still face jail time or probation?” When most people think of paying a “debt to society” the first thing that comes to mind is time behind bars. The phrase is used to…
Jury Secrecy Might Not Be Guaranteed After all
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?” Lots of juicy television police procedurals spend time showing what goes on during jury deliberations. The deliberations often make for good television because of the interest people have in what goes on behind…
Professor Says One Way To Reduce Troubles With Police Is To Have Fewer Arrests
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?” Anyone who has been watching the news recently has likely come across a number of stories about problems associated with the police. The Black Lives Matter movement grew after a number of African-Americans…
Facebook Torture Video Leads To Calls For Hate Crime Charges
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Do I need to hire an attorney if I have been falsely accused?” The news became a national sensation almost immediately after it happened. A group of four black young people in Chicago attacked a mentally-challenged white teenager, tied him up…
Death Penalty on the Decline
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Should I ever plead guilty to a charge?” Though there’s been surprisingly little coverage, experts say that this year appears to serve as yet more proof that American’s interest in using the death penalty as an instrument of criminal punishment may…
Is there such a thing as interstellar criminal law?
Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime?” Here in the U.S. we’re used to applying multiple levels of criminal laws. There are local ordinances, state laws and federal statutes and someone’s behavior can, at times, implicate…