A general DUI traffic stop needs to begin with a valid reason to pull the car over. Examples may include evidence of intoxication, such as swerving all over the road, or an unrelated issue, like a broken taillight. No matter what, though, police can’t just randomly stop cars. They need to have a reason to […]
If you were to go off what you see depicted on television, you’d assume that most criminal cases ended up going to trial. That’s far from the reality, though. Statistics show that about 90% of all criminal cases end with a plea deal. There are various reasons why prosecutors might offer you a plea deal and why […]
Currently, ignition interlock devices (IIDs) aren’t mandated by New Jersey law for first-time DWI offenders unless their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is determined to be at least .15% (nearly twice the legal limit). However, a judge can order that anyone who pleads guilty to or is convicted of a DWI have an IID installed on their […]
Whether you are in New Jersey or elsewhere in the nation, having a police officer ask you to pull over to the side of the road can be an unnerving experience. You might be aware of something you have done wrong, such as exceeding the speed limit or allowing a broken taillight to go unfixed. […]
There are a number of different crimes that involve the theft of personal property, including larceny, robbery, false pretenses, embezzlement, and other offenses. When determining the level of severity of theft crimes in New Jersey, certain factors are evaluated by law enforcement and judges. Value of the property stolen The value of the property stolen […]
When people in New Jersey face criminal charges, they may come up against even more problems in the courtroom. According to researchers, many of the psychological, IQ and other evaluation tests taken into account by courts may have little scientific basis, if any. These tests can have an influence on how juries and judges evaluate […]
When you come in contact with the police, do you feel confident that you know how to handle yourself? Whether it’s a traffic stop or an officer at the door, you want to know how to talk to them. First and foremost, remember that you often have a right to remain silent. Even if they’re arresting […]
The reason that we feel anger is because it’s a natural response. When you feel threatened in some way, anger powers an aggressive and often selfish mindset. For most people, this is a common response even to a mild issue — like getting stuck in a traffic jam on the way to work. The problem […]
It seems that, all too often, police officers rush to take aggressive action to resolve a situation. They see everything as a conflict. They may even escalate tensions as they try to get people to comply. This is the wrong approach, some experts claim, saying that officers should focus instead on de-escalation. They should try to […]
