J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?” The prosecution of a former New York City police officer who federal prosecutors say participated in “a concerted criminal plot to kidnap and eat women” has raised concerns that his…
Articles Posted in Criminal Defense
Prison is far from an ideal place to be pregnant
Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime? Like countless mothers across the United States, Laura Strange spent two hours cradling her newborn daughter Haley in her arms. Unlike most mothers, however, the twenty-five-year-old’s ankle was cuffed…
Nonviolent felonies the real culprit in voter suppression
Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime? The political battle over voting rights in North Carolina has focused in recent years on the issue of photo identification. One side of the political battle wants to require…
Legislator seeks to criminalize recording police while on duty
J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?” In general, a person’s privacy rights extend as is “reasonable.” Persons do not, for instance, have a reasonable expectation of privacy when they walk on a public street. They may…
State’s clampdown on public criminal records just another troubling sign of the times
J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC responds to “The person that called the police doesn’t want to press charges, can I still be prosecuted?” The political world has been aflutter with outrage at Hillary Rodham Clinton’s use of a personal email account while employed as the Secretary…
Author says parents of teens need a criminal defense attorney on speed dial
J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “Do I need to hire an attorney if I have been falsely accused?” If you are a parent and your child is a teenager, you need a criminal defense lawyer. So writes author Lisa Green in her new…
Change in “equitable sharing” may mean less dubious seizures of “criminal” cash, property
J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?” Kenneth Lamont Clark runs a strip club and his patrons pay for their entertainment with cash. A lot of cash. So when deputies in Harnett County who were partnering with…
Federal, state governments flooding American society with “crimes”
Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime? On average, American professionals commit several crimes per day, according to lawyer Harvey Silverglate. He wrote a book on the subject titled Three Felonies a Day. Silverglate and many…
Free-speech guardians worry man’s conviction may lead to criminalization of rap music
J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?” The Supreme Court entertained arguments this week in a case that could lead to the criminalization of some rap lyrics. The case involves a 31-year old “aspiring rapper who likes…
N.C. voters pass Constitutional amendment allowing defendants to waive jury trials
J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?” Like other criminal defense attorneys, I would almost never recommend that a defendant waive one’s right to a jury trial. Until last week, defendants in North Carolina could…