The stores tend to be jam-packed with shoppers during the holiday season. Statistics say that leads to an increase in shoplifting every year, particularly in urban areas. In general, shoplifting incidents have risen 24% since 2023 – even before the holiday season got...
When faced with danger, human instinct juggles between fight and flight to deal with the situation. While you have the right to defend yourself, how you choose to do it may mean the difference between staying within the bounds of the law or facing legal consequences....
When a driver is charged with a DUI, the evidence against them often includes field sobriety test (FST) results. These tests are designed to evaluate a driver’s ability to drive safely, but they aren’t always reliable. Nevertheless, law enforcement officials use these...
Expungement offers individuals a second chance by removing eligible criminal record entries from public access. However, the process is far from straightforward, especially for those with multiple offenses on their record. This is because rules surrounding expungement...
Police officers generally need a search warrant before they can enter a property and gather evidence. The only exceptions to this are if the owner consents to the search or there are exigent circumstances (a legitimate emergency). For a search warrant to be valid,...
Most Internet browsers have a private browsing mode. These may go by different names. Some tech companies refer to it as “incognito mode”, for example, while others simply call it “private browsing mode.” No matter what the name is, the goal is the same: The browser...
Chemical breath tests play an important role in impaired driving enforcement. Police officers who suspect that someone drove poorly or caused a crash because of alcohol intoxication can validate that suspicion with a test. The driver's performance at the wheel, how...
There are different evidential standards in criminal cases. For example, to make an arrest, police officers require probable cause. To bring a case to trial, the prosecution has to be sure that they have evidence that proves guilt beyond all reasonable doubt. How...
During a traffic stop, the main objective of a police officer is to find proof of traffic violations. In situations where they suspect that a driver may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they may ask the driver to exit their vehicle. Police officers...
Under § 18.2-460 of the Code of Virginia, it’s a crime to interfere with the lawful actions of police officers, court officials, investigators and more. “Obstruction of justice” can involve a wide variety of behaviors. While the law aims to keep people from...