Recent Posts in Criminal Defense Category
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What Happens When Kids Are Taken by Virginia Child Protective Services?
Posted By JRLawContinue Reading
Virginia Child Protective Services (CPS) workers have the right to remove children from presumably dangerous home situations. CPS workers have this right under incredibly specific circumstances (circumstances we talk about in this blog ,) but in this blog, we will talk about the possible outcomes of child-removal scenarios. All removal situations will end in one of the following ways: the ...
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Can Juveniles Waive Rights?
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.An article in the Los Angeles Times highlights an increasing national debate about whether juveniles are fit to waive their rights when questioned by police. The article makes a number of points, including whether juveniles can make decisions while fully understanding the long-term consequences. A study by a UVA Ph.D. student found that “More than 90 percent of juvenile suspects waive their ...Continue Reading -
The Criminalization of School Discipline
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.Over the past several years there has been an increasing trend toward the criminalization of school discipline. That’s a fancy way of saying that getting in trouble in school often results in criminal charges, instead of just being handled by the school. This happens in part due to having police officers in school, but it’s also due to the seriousness with which schools, school administrators and ...Continue Reading -
Juvenile Crime News: "Game" Leads to Arrest
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.This week a 17-year-old was arrested in California after threatening letters and a suspicious object were found on an elementary school campus. The letters invited school officials to “play a game,” similar to horror movie plots. Officials say the object contained sodium ferrocyanide, a substance found in commercial products such as table salt and used in film processing. The investigation led to ...Continue Reading -
Juvenile Crime News: Curfews Ineffective
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.A recent article out of Albuquerque, NM highlights a growing trend — that violent juvenile crime isn’t impacted by curfews. According to the report, citing FBI stats, juvenile crime nationwide sees spikes in the morning, then increases significantly in the afternoons when school lets out. Crime goes down throughout the evening hours when curfews are typically enacted in an attempt to reduce crime. ...Continue Reading -
Charged With Abduction in Virginia? Know the Facts
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.It is easy to hear the word “abduction” and picture a Hollywood scene of a person blindfolded and tied to a chair with lots of drama, but this word actually has a broader legal definition. If you are facing criminal charges of abduction in Virginia and are confused about what this means, you are not alone. This complex offense includes holding, moving, or keeping an individual against their will, ...Continue Reading -
Juvenile Crime News: Police Concerned with Realistic Pellet Guns
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.An article from a newspaper in Minnesota recently highlights the dangers of realistic pellet and bb guns for teens and others. The article reports on several recent incidents where teens were shooting pellet guns at a variety of objects, including cars, lights and geese. The article makes a very good point about realistic-looking pellet guns and how situations can quickly escalate to a deadly ...Continue Reading -
End of School: A Dangerous Time for Students
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.The end of school and start of summer is one of the most dangerous times for high school students. Their minds are already on summer and college, their first jobs or upcoming military service. The atmosphere is contagious and horseplay and joking runs rampant — that’s dangerous because things can quickly get out of hand and escalate. What many teens forget is there are consequences for actions. ...Continue Reading -
Real or Fake? Virginia Beach Seminar Will Focus on Airsoft and Toy Guns
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.On June 10 the Virginia Beach Police Department is hosting a seminar to educate people about the dangers of children playing with Airsoft pellet guns. The department’s goal is to address parents and caregivers about ways to keep children safe, since the air-powered guns look so realistic. Many adults, including officers, have difficulty identifying the guns as toys and the department will provide ...Continue Reading -
Are Juvenile Arrests on the Decline in TN?
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.New Approach to Juvenile Offenders We recently came across an article from Chattanooga, TN, which stated that juvenile arrest have dropped 60% in the past five years. According to the article, the decline is the result of a shift in juvenile justice away from punitive, arrest-focused work and toward ways of dealing with juvenile offenders “that don’t automatically end with minors in handcuffs. The ...Continue Reading -
Juvenile Defense News: Student Charged with Taking Sword to School
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.A local high school student was recently charged with taking a samurai sword to school on the bus. A situation that is all too familiar in the juvenile justice system. Teenagers often make decisions that aren’t well thought out, and when young egos get involved with pride of ownership, what started as a simple “show-and-tell” idea for friends, becomes a legal nightmare. While we’re not sure of the ...Continue Reading -
Sending Students to Police & Courts and Triple the National Rate
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.The Center for Public Integrity Study A study by the Center for Public Integrity found that Virginia schools send students to the police and court system at almost triple the national rate. The report and subsequent news articles suggest that children are being pushed into the criminal justice system for actions that historically have been handled by the schools internally. The report leads with a ...Continue Reading -
Do Scared Straight Juvenile Programs Work?
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.A recent article in The Register-Herald in West Virginia addresses Scared Straight programs and whether they are effective in helping prevent juvenile crime. The theory is that when juveniles are exposed to adult jails and see just how harsh prison life can be, they are less likely to be involved in criminal activity. The programs are sometimes criticized for achieving mixed results. The article ...Continue Reading -
Guns in Schools
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.Guns are fascinating to kids and regardless of your views on gun control and gun ownership, the reality is young boys and girls are curious about guns. For many teens, and even middle-schoolers, access to guns is easier than you may think, whether in your home, or someone else’s. If there is a gun in the house, chances are the kids know where it is, and how to get to it. Gun safes and trigger ...Continue Reading -
Juvenile Criminal Defense News: Avoiding the Permanent Stain of Juvenile Crime Record
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.A Proposal in the Florida Senate would expand that state’s law to offer amnesty to repeat juvenile offenders for subsequent nonviolent crimes. It’s an interesting approach that would be paired with services for the juveniles to help improve their lives ( read the full article, here ). For many juveniles, a criminal conviction can start a downward spiral that leads to a future of problem behavior ...Continue Reading -
What to do When Your Holiday Cheer Gets Out of Hand
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.The holidays are a wonderful time, gathering friends and family. People have extra time off work, students are out of school and college, there are plenty of parties, and lots to celebrate. Have You Been Naughty or Nice? It’s easy for things to get carried away just a little too much. The after-work gathering with colleagues results in one drink too many; the roughhousing turns into a real fight; ...Continue Reading -
Safe Drinking Tips for the Holiday Season (and anytime)
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.The holidays are a time of family get-togethers, office parties and celebration. We all like to have fun and enjoy the season, but it’s no fun getting arrested for DUI or other charges that can occur when the partying gets out of hand. If you choose to drink at holiday gatherings, here are a few safe drinking tips to keep you, and others, safe: Have a plan for a safe way home, either through a ...Continue Reading -
Is Shoplifting a Crime?
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.Shoplifting crimes are often impulse-control issues, rather than premeditated acts of crime. Those charged with shoplifting will sometimes talk about the crime more like an illness than a conscious decision to steal. They don’t see themselves as criminals and often immediately regret the behavior, but it went too far. Shoplifting is on the rise, and all too often it becomes more noticeable during ...Continue Reading -
Do I need an Attorney for ...?
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.One of the most frequent questions our law office staff hears is “Do I need an attorney?”, usually followed by a possible problem. Such as “do I need an attorney for a speeding ticket?”, “Do I need an attorney for a DUI?” or “Do I need an attorney for my child’s shoplifting charge?”. While the reasons for talking to an attorney vary greatly, the short answer is, if you think you may need to talk ...Continue Reading -
Juvenile Crimes Can Impact School Success
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.A recent article in The Virginian-Pilot about students accused of crimes brings to mind two important things parents need to know: First, do you know what crimes your child’s school considers serious enough to send him/her to an alternative school? Second, did you know that the school administrators have a tremendous amount of discretion as to the decision that will impact your child’s future? As ...Continue Reading -
Do I Really Need a Criminal Defense Attorney?
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.Even if you have not committed a crime, you must talk with a criminal defense attorneyimmediately. Innocent people are charged and sometimes convicted of crimes they did not commit more often than you think. My best advice is to ALWAYS seek legal counsel before you are interviewed by the police for a criminal investigation. Remember, the officer’s job is to make an arrest for each crime that ...Continue Reading -
How to Find a Good Criminal Defense Attorney
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.When you need a criminal lawyer, your freedom and future depend on choosing the right one. Make sure the criminal defense attorney you choose knows the law and how to apply it to your case. Here are a few questions we recommend asking a criminal attorney before you hire them: Ask him/her how familiar he/she is with the court, judges and procedures where you are charged. For example, if you were ...Continue Reading -
Don't Let A Reckless Driving Ticket Ruin Your Summer Vacation
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.Summer means traveling and it’s easy to let your speed drift up when you’re driving, particularly on your way to or from vacation, or even just the start of a nice weekend. If you’ve driven the roads in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk and other Hampton Roads cities, chances are you’ve seen your share of people being pulled over. Even worse, maybe it’s happened to you. Many drivers in Virginia ...Continue Reading -
Teenage Pranks Can Have Serious Consequences
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.From an Innocent Prank to Felony Charges As a former Virginia Beach police officer, I have too often seen what can happen when seemingly innocent teenage pranks turn into felony arrests. We know the summer can be boring for teens who haven’t found jobs, aren’t in summer school, or don’t have activities to keep them busy. Imagine you are the proud parent or grandparent of an honor-roll student who ...Continue Reading -
Do I Have Grounds to File an Appeal?
Posted By Jerrell R. Johnson, Esq.The legal counsel you choose to represent you during your appeals proceedings will have a significant impact on your ability to exercise your rights, have a convincing argument made on your behalf, and ultimately get the court’s decision reserved. Grounds to file an appeal include: Unjustly convicted of a crime Legal errors, misconduct on the part of the attorney representing Legal errors, ...Continue Reading
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