Maryland has favorable speedy trial laws that could benefit your case. You are guaranteed the right to a speedy trial by the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 21 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights. In addition, Maryland Rule 4-271 requires that a...
A “CPO,” or Civil Protection Order in the District of Columbia, is an order from the court for the petitioner, one individual, to stay away from another individual, the respondent, that remains in effect for one year. This is similar to what many would call a...
Enacted in December 2018, Congress created the First Step Act (the “Act”) to improve criminal justice outcomes. The Act, among other things, intends to reduce recidivism, implement sentencing and correctional reform, and incentivize good behavior by increasing the...
In the District of Columbia, there are two crimes for leaving the scene of an accident. The first is DC hit and run or leaving after colliding (“LAC”), property damage, which carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and/or a $500.00 fine. The second is leaving...
What Is an Act of Vandalism? The word “vandalism” is often used to describe any act of property damage, but it actually has a specific legal definition. Under D.C. law, vandalism is the willful or malicious destruction, injury, disfigurement, or defacement of any...
