Silver Spring Criminal Defense Law Blog

Domestic violence includes a lot more than just physical violence. For individuals facing domestic assault accusations, allegations and possible criminal charges, it is important to be familiar with the different types of domestic abuse and the options available when facing allegations of domestic violence.

Domestic violence does, of course, include physical violence but it can also include many other types of behaviors as well. Domestic violence generally includes behavior that is intended to maintain power or control over another person. Domestic violence can occur between spouses, intimate partners regardless of sexual orientation, family and household members and other circumstances as well.

Drunk driving charges can carry serious potential penalties and consequences for accused individuals, which is why it is important for accused individuals to understand their defense options. They may wonder, however, what their defense options are.

There are generally two types of drunk driving defenses. The first type of defenses are considered affirmative defenses, and the second category includes all other types of defense that usually focus on police procedure and the rights of accused individuals. Affirmative defenses include necessity, duress, entrapment, mistake of fact and involuntary intoxication. It is important for individuals who have been accused of a DUI to understand these defenses and how they may apply to their situation and circumstances.

If you are convicted of DUI or DWI in the state of Maryland, the judge may order an ignition interlock device to be installed in your vehicle, and you will probably have some questions. For example, when testing, do you have to pull over to the side of the road? Is it possible to trick the device? 

An overview of the criminal justice process and its components can help an accused individual better navigate the process. There are three primary institutions that comprise the criminal justice system including law enforcement, the court system and the corrections system. It is helpful to understand a little about what each does.

Law enforcement, of course, investigates crimes and generally gathers evidence of crimes. Based on the information and evidence provided by law enforcement, prosecutors determine how accused individuals will be charged and the court system adjudicates those charges. Plea bargaining, recently discussed in this blog, may also be involved at this stage of the process. Lastly, the accused individual may interact with corrections if they are subject to incarceration.