criminal law

There are many reasons criminal laws might be changed or updated in the state of North Carolina. In 2019, a combination of investigative reporting and public pressure led to a criminal law shift in the state, making the act of spiking a drink illegal regardless of...

Young adults don’t always make the best decisions. A high school senior or young college student could decide to go to a big party on a weekend and end up driving home drunk. If police stop a driver who is under 21 for driving drunk, it doesn’t take much to face stiff...

The fate of young people facing criminal charges is a much-discussed topic in criminal justice law and reform. In North Carolina, a new law was passed just over a year ago to allow 16 and 17-year-olds to remain in the juvenile system, rather than being prosecuted as...

Serious accusations can stem from witnessed events, misunderstandings, false information or even outright lies. Unfortunately, you may have ended up in a situation where authorities charged you with a crime based on the accusations and claims of another person. While...

Criminal justice reform is a hot topic across the United States, with many states taking steps to lower the impact of past convictions for lower-level and nonviolent drug offenders. In North Carolina, the “Second Chance Act” and the “First Step Act” recently passed,...

Law enforcement in North Carolina and elsewhere often rely on tips and information from the community when investigating possible crimes. However, some people who wish to remain anonymous when giving tips or sharing information with the police and are therefore not...

Whether you live in North Carolina, come for a visit or pass through on your way to another destination, you must abide by the laws of the state while in it. If you find yourself in trouble with law enforcement at any time, it is essential that you know how the state...

People across the United States have the right to protect themselves and their properties. But, can self-defense go too far? In North Carolina, the Statutory Castle Doctrine allows people to use deadly force to defend their home, car or workplace. This may be used as...

Law enforcement agencies across the United States all work to capture data for various types of crimes. The information shown by this data, along with other factors like political will, inform new services or approaches police may take in their activities. In North...

The possession of marijuana may be the grayest legal area in the United States today. In some states, buying marijuana is not much different than buying groceries; people can simply walk into a cannabis retailer, show their IDs and browse a vast collection. North...