As Emily Smith reports for CNN, those with special permission to pass through the U.S.-Mexican border without rigorous inspections - like a student who needed to travel from his home city in Mexico to the University of Texas on a routine basis - found that they were targeted by the drug cartels for the use of trafficking drugs like marijuana across the border.
Some cases tougher than others
To be honest, some criminal defense cases involving traffic violations are tougher to defend than others. The case we are about to describe below is definitely one of those "tougher" cases.
North Carolina sheriff's sergeant accused of domestic violence
Allegations of some crimes can be particularly damaging to a person's career. Whether the person is convicted of a crime often doesn't matter once the public is made aware of the accusations. Domestic violence is a prime example. If someone is accused of abusing another person, very often the full story doesn't come to light, leaving those who have heard about an incident to fill in the missing details on their own.
Young man throws eggs, gets busted for underage drinking
A 19-year-old North Carolina man was throwing eggs out of his apartment window. Understandably, someone noticed, and called the cops on him.
Former North Carolina basketball player acquitted in burglary
It should come as no surprise that when victims are asked to identify suspects in crimes, they aren't always right. The various circumstances of a crime can easily lead to confusion and a betrayal of one's own memory. If the crime happened at night or in a darkened room, the crime victim or witness may not see the criminal's face clearly. Or, if the crime is a violent one and the victim is threatened in some way, fear or shock may cause a misidentification. Sometimes, the victim simply can't remember what the person looked like, or is influenced by a police detective's suggestion.
Some state legislatures seek to expand DNA sampling
In a move that, if successful, could easily expand to other states like North Carolina, the New York state legislature is getting close to passing law that would expand the DNA database for those convicted of all misdemeanor crimes - read: all misdemeanors - which in North Carolina would include many cases of marijuana possession.
11 texts in 11 minutes
Talk about distracted driving: this distraction was manual, cognitive and visual, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, as David Kiley reports for AOL Autos. And the cause of a highway pile-up that claimed the lives of two people was a cause none other than texting while driving, which will now lead to a citation in North Carolina.
Understanding of prosecution process is key for crime suspects
When a person is arrested and accused of a crime, one of the first things the arresting officer should do is state the suspect's Miranda rights. It's the first step in informing the suspect of the legal process that lies ahead. It should be noted that the last line of the Miranda warning asks the suspect if he or she understands these rights. If not, it's incumbent upon the officer to do whatever is necessary to clear up any misunderstanding before the process continues.
Study shows society 'less tolerant' of youth crime
Criminologist Megan Kurlychek of the University of Albany says it best: "The average teenager who steals an iPod or is arrested for possession of marijuana - why do we make that define their lives?" Kurlychek is referring, in part, to a recent study which indicates that more than 30 percent of all youth will be arrested by age 23.
Elderly woman accused of killing husband blames domestic abuse
When most people think of perpetrators of domestic violence, they picture young to middle-aged people, strong enough to overpower their spouses and children. But this description doesn't always fit the bill.
Medical marijuana: Not in 2011 - but in 2012?
According to the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), an organization that seeks to remove criminal penalties for marijuana possession, the North Carolina legislature had a couple of bills on its plate in 2011: HB 577 and HB 324, both of which sought to change state marijuana law.
