While DNA testing is a major component in many criminal trials in Maryland and across the United States, it has not always been a part of the evidence process. Some defendants did not have access to DNA evidence gathered during the case, which could potentially lead...
Theivery comes in many different guises and takes many different names: embezzlement, fraud, larceny, grand larceny and petty theft, to name a few. The reasons for theft involve many complicated factors such as joblessness, desperation and hunger. Recent statistics...
In my most recent blog, I examined how judges decide whether to have serious cases involving 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds handled in juvenile court or as adult criminal cases. For a variety of reasons—including the fact that, although the juvenile court has...
In preparation for your release from prison, you may have already started to organize personal documentation so you can prepare to find a job. Even though you may experience challenges along the way, finding a job after your release can accelerate your effort to...
The most rigorous study ever done on a widely-used forensic technique – bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) – reveals disturbing error rates and disagreements among certified analysts. The study, published in the August edition of Forensic Science International,...
Defendants in federal prosecutions have the right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment. That privilege includes the right to effective assistance of counsel. If your lawyer did not advise you properly or made legal mistakes during your trial resulting in a negative...
The use of DNA in criminal cases may make an important difference when it comes to establishing whether someone is guilty or not of committing a crime. Since law enforcement can gather DNA from just about anything from saliva to skin cells, police may look for DNA...