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Articles Posted in criminal justice

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North Carolina Inches Closer to Decriminalization of Marijuana

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Can I be arrested without evidence against me?”   A North Carolina task force calls for the decriminalization of marijuana in the state. The state’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice has adopted recommendations to decriminalize possession of marijuana in…

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Landmark Criminal Justice Reform Coming to North Carolina on Dec. 1, 2019

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “As a parent, what should I be aware of when speaking to police about charges my child faces?”   Landmark Criminal Justice Reform Coming to North Carolina on Dec. 1, 2019   North Carolina is the last state in the nation to…

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Can a Jury Being Instructed on Collateral Damage of a Conviction?

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime?”   One of the fundamental principles of the criminal justice system in the United States is the right to have a trial by a jury of your peers. With any…

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Courts Allow Computers To Weigh In On Criminal Cases

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?”   If you have seen the movie “Minority Report” starring Tom Cruise, you are familiar with some of the scary and seemingly futuristic ways that technology could come to influence the criminal…

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Should Tech Companies Share Information With Defendants As Well As With Prosecutors?

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “When can I post on Social media about my ongoing case?”   It likely comes as no surprise to most people that the things they post online, particularly on the big social media sites, are seldom kept private for long. As users…

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Delayed discovery can delay justice in criminal cases

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question:”What is an expungement?”   Most people do not spend time worrying about things like the discovery process. It is legalistic and confusing to those not familiar with the criminal justice system. Though it can be complicated, it is incredibly important and worth…

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Does appearance impact criminal sentencing?

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?”   A commonly repeated trope of the criminal justice system is that lady justice is blind. We say this because we hope that all are treated fairly before the law. The hope…

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New Iowa Forfeiture Law Doesn’t Go Far Enough

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,…

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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…

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Criminal traffic rules shaped by justices who have had little contact with traffic, courts

Charlotte DWI and Criminal Defense Attorney J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “What am I obligated to do if I’ve been pulled for Drinking and Driving?”   The United States Supreme Court is comprised of nine judges whose legal educations began at either Harvard or…

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