When the police stop you it can be extremely intimidating – even if you’ve done nothing illegal. That’s why it’s so important to understand all of your rights when in such a position. There are several reasons as to why a police officer may choose to stop you. Aside from conducting a routine stop, police […]
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Does North Carolina Have a Law Against Revenge Porn?
There’s no doubt that breaking up is hard to do. Unfortunately, many people take the pain of a breakup and manifest it in harmful ways. They sometimes take petty and hurtful actions in order to hurt the other person. But while most of these actions aren’t illegal, there are some that cross the line. With […]
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Can You Be Convicted of Murder Without the Intent to Kill?
When someone accidentally crashes their car into the vehicle in front of them, they can still be held responsible – even though it was unintentional. But what about a felony? Can someone be held responsible for a felony that they didn’t mean to commit? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. The Felony Murder Rule When someone […]
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What to Know About Fake IDs and Underage Drinking in North Carolina
The law is clear surrounding the purchase of alcohol and those who fail to adhere to it will be punished. This is the job of Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) agents. They are responsible for investigating, citing, and at times arresting individuals who commit criminal offenses concerning the sale of alcohol and other offenses related to […]
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3 Tips to Avoid Driving While Intoxicated
Drunk driving is one of the biggest errors in judgment that someone can make. While people generally never plan to drive while under the influence of alcohol, poor planning often results in a false belief that the person will be able to get themselves home after drinking. Many people in this situation fail to consider […]
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What Is the Difference Between Extortion and Bribery in NC?
You may be under the impression that bribery and extortion are the same things, but they are not. While many people use these terms interchangeably and they are both considered to be “white-collar” crimes often involving money, the elements of each are different. Extortion Extortion is a crime that involves demanding payment or compensation of […]
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Reports Question Accuracy of Fingerprint Analysis
For more than 100 years it has been accepted that finding someone’s fingerprints at the scene of a crime means that they were in fact there. However, according to new research, this may or may not be the case. Per the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), fingerprint analysis may not be as […]
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Can You Claim Insanity as a Defense to a Criminal Conviction?
When someone has been accused of committing a crime, we often think of a defense as evidence that the person could not have or did not commit it. However, sometimes a defense to a criminal conviction is not that the defendant didn’t commit the act, but rather that he or she cannot be held morally […]
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Breaking and Entering in NC: When Is It a Felony?
The crime of “breaking and entering” is as it sounds: going into someone else’s property (forcibly) without first receiving permission from those who reside there or own the property. But depending upon the type of property and the intent of the crime that was committed, you can be charged with either a misdemeanor or a […]
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What Is False Imprisonment in North Carolina?
While you may think of “imprisoning” someone as locking them in a room, your actions need not be so extreme for you to be guilty of a crime. In North Carolina, the common law crime of false imprisonment is the unlawful restraint of another person. In order to be convicted of false imprisonment, the prosecution […]
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