Seeing a police car behind you with its lights and sirens on can be stressful experience – particularly if the officers inside are indicating that you, not another motorist, should pull over. If you’ve done something wrong that’s more serious than a traffic violation,...
Criminal Defense
The police may be able to read your private messages
If you send a private message on Facebook or another social media site, who do you assume can read that message? If it’s between you and another individual, you probably believe that no one else will ever see it. You may also have sent the message to a group, meaning...
What you should know about Alabama’s overdose immunity law
With the number and availability of lethal drugs increasing in this country, fatal overdoses are more likely than ever. Minutes can make a difference between life and death. That’s why most states, including Alabama, have enacted “Good Samaritan” laws throughout the...
Important points to know about invoking Miranda rights
Miranda rights are an essential element of the American legal system. They ensure that individuals know their constitutional rights during an encounter with law enforcement. This awareness is crucial because it helps prevent self-incrimination and guarantees the right...
How a holiday gathering can turn into a criminal charge
The holidays are full of festive occasions: family get-togethers, office parties and university students coming home for a break. Most of these times will be spent in good cheer with laughter and swapping stories. But whenever large groups of people are gathered in...
The issue with geofence warrants
Technology can be both a force for progress and a reason for concern. Privacy concerns in this new digital connectivity age can be troubling for Alabama residents. One area of special concern lately is the concept of a geofence warrant. A geofence warrant allows the...
Does an eyewitness actually remember what happened?
In many criminal cases, an eyewitness will be brought in to testify about what occurred. They may claim that they saw an assault take place, that they witnessed someone robbing a retail location, that they saw a drug deal occur or something else of this nature. They...
Proving entrapment can be challenging
Alabama residents who are arrested after buying or selling drugs from an undercover police officer or police informant often mount defenses based on entrapment, but juries rarely find these arguments persuasive. This is because prosecutors know what entrapment is, and...
Issues with some forensic evidence
Forensic evidence plays a vital role in Alabama criminal investigations and courtrooms, helping establish the guilt or innocence of individuals. However, in recent years, the reliability and validity of certain forensic techniques have come under scrutiny, revealing...
How a prosecutor proves drug cultivation or manufacturing
Cultivating marijuana or manufacturing other controlled substances in Alabama results in harsher criminal charges and penalties than simple possession. The law takes this harsh view of drug production because it enables drug use for profit. As a more serious level of...