A young person who is arrested on drug-related charges may feel as if he or she has no options. However, North Carolina police officers have a duty to follow specific procedure when investigating certain crimes. Young students who have never been arrested or convicted of a crime may be particularly scared in the event of a youth arrest, but it is important to remember that everyone has rights; even if they are being arrested.
Wilmington serial bank robber sentenced to 10 years in prison
For many crimes, treatment and cessation programs have been developed to address the underlying causes and prevent offenders from committing them again. Sex offenders, for example, often undergo extensive therapy during incarceration and afterward to prevent them from hurting another person. Drug treatment programs are also widely available for people convicted of drug-related crimes. But too often it seems some offenses, such as theft and other property crimes, are simply written off as bad behavior and little to no effort is made to help people work toward a life that doesn't compel them to commit the crime again.
Four-month investigation results in multiple drug arrests
When law enforcement officers spend hundreds of dollars and hours on investigating a suspected drug ring, they may be more inclined to stack charges against as many people as possible. They are eager to show results and charge several people in the process. This can mean that it is not uncommon for a person to get dragged into drug possession charges for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Police violence rampant in many places
While the shooting and killing of 17-year-old unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman, a "neighborhood watch" volunteer, sparked nationwide media attention, many similar shootings and beatings of innocent people or those committing minor infractions by police often escape media scrutiny. Criminal defense attorneys and many familiar with the operations of municipal police departments believe that these actions are far more common than many believe.
Mother, teens face charges for after-prom party
With prom season in full swing, teenagers across North Carolina are looking to celebrate. Students and parents alike may want to be careful at the after party, though. Police responding to noise complaints recently have discovered some underage drinking at post-prom parties. They are citing parents who are home as well as any minors who are drinking.
Chapel Hill bans all cell phone use while driving
Students and residents in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, may want to put down their phone and focus on the road starting June 1. On that date, Chapel Hill officers can start ticketing drivers for talking on the phone. This is a change from the current law that only prohibits texting while driving. Even drivers who are using a hands-free system can be ticketed under the terms of the ban.
Rear View Cameras May Save Lives in North Carolina
Back-over deaths occur when a driver hits and injures another person while backing up. Tragically, the victims in these types of accidents are most often children under the age of 5 and adults over the age of 70. Many of these accidents occur in the driveways of residential neighborhoods and most often involve a family member of the victim. Eleven children nationwide have already lost their lives as a result of back-over pedestrian accidents this year - the danger is ever-present in each state, including North Carolina.
North Carolina airline worker sentenced for conspiracy
Did you know that you do not even need to be in possession of drugs to be associated with drug trafficking? Sometimes, just doing a simple favor or bringing money to someone is enough to give police a reason to arrest a person. Anyone who believes he or she may face drug charges for any act related to transporting drugs may want to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Woman accused in North Carolina robbery has troubled past
A 20-year-old woman who suffered a traumatic childhood that included homelessness and a drug-addicted mother is expected to plead guilty to robbing a North Carolina pawnshop and killing its clerk. She and her alleged accomplice are facing charges of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping.
Drug charges pile up in North Carolina traffic stop
Drug paraphernalia charges are the highest-level misdemeanors in North Carolina. Often, though, the charge is added on when a person is facing a list of other misdemeanor charges, such as drug possession. The reason that police officers file several charges when drugs are involved is so that it increases the probability that a person will plead guilty to at least one of them.
Charges against 27 college students dismissed
Students who face charges for juvenile crimes have a lot at stake. Depending on the charges, a student can be suspended from school, scholarships can be lost and he or she may face jail time as well. Repercussions of a student arrest can vary, depending on the student's age and the charges, but in all situations it is important to protect a student's future.
North Carolina attempted-murder suspect maintains innocence
Prisons in North Carolina and across the country are full of convicted inmates who insist they aren't guilty of the crime for which they're serving their time. If the courts took every inmate's word as truth, the nation's correctional facilities wouldn't be as crowded as they are. But there are plenty of cases in which suspects are genuinely wrongly convicted. Some are victims of a mistaken identity. Others are convicted due to thin or faulty evidence and testimony.
Highway Bill Includes Electronic Record Enforcement for Trucks
Recently the U.S. Senate approved a highway transportation bill, which among other things, mandates the use of electronic onboard recorders (EOBR) on commercial trucks. An EOBR is a device that records information about the operation of commercial trucks on roads across the country, including those here in North Carolina. The hope is that the device will help enforce restrictions on hours of service for drivers and employers, and in doing so, prevent trucking accidents and save lives.
Police disguised as construction workers spot traffic violations
The next time you are driving and see a sign warning you of construction ahead, you might want to double check your seat belt. Police in North Carolina are setting up stings by posing as construction workers on many roads in order to catch people who are speeding, drunk drivers, people who are not wearing their seat belts, and many other traffic violations.
