From [...]
Many times in cases where possession is a critical element for the State to prove (i.e. drug cases), the prosecution must prove possession through “constructive possession”. This is a term of art developed in the legal system. It essentially means that although you were not actually possessing the illegal object [...]
Fisher cited an increase in [...]
This month has been busy for me, so I've neglected the blog a bit. While I've been working a number of interesting stories have emerged in Mississippi criminal law. They have all been covered elsewhere, so here's a quick roundup.
First, Scruggs II (if you don't know what this is you' [...]
The American Bar Association has published this essay discussing America's ever-expanding prison population and its negative impact on the justice system. An excerpt:
At midyear 2007, U.S. prisons and jails held 2,299,116 inmates, meaning more than 1 percent of American adults were incarcerated. We top the world in per capita imprisonment, [...]
The American Bar Association has published this essay discussing America's ever-expanding prison population and its negative impact on the justice system. An excerpt:
At midyear 2007, U.S. prisons and jails held 2,299,116 inmates, meaning more than 1 percent of American adults were incarcerated. We top the world in per capita imprisonment, [...]
Pressured by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), the Mississippi Legislature is considering a bill which would mandate ignition interlock devices as a penalty for a first-offense DUI conviction. MADD is known to advocate over the top penalties for drinking and driving, and forced installation of ignition interlock devices is [...]
Pressured by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), the Mississippi Legislature is considering a bill which would mandate ignition interlock devices as a penalty for a first-offense DUI conviction. MADD is known to advocate over the top penalties for drinking and driving, and forced installation of ignition interlock devices is [...]
The Mississippi Legislature is considering a law which would ban racial profiling in Mississippi (the ACLU has this information describing racial profiling). The proposed legislation would impose a fine up to $1,000.00 and/or prison sentence up to 1 year upon officers who engage in racial profiling and would require [...]
The Mississippi Legislature is considering a law which would ban racial profiling in Mississippi (the ACLU has this information describing racial profiling). The proposed legislation would impose a fine up to $1,000.00 and/or prison sentence up to 1 year upon officers who engage in racial profiling and would require [...]
My criminal practice includes a number of felony drug cases - defendants charged with possession, possession with intent, or sale of a controlled substance. Often these cases come with an added twist. A forfeiture proceeding. Mississippi law allows a wide variety of property to be seized, and potentially forfeited, when it [...]
My criminal practice includes a number of felony drug cases - defendants charged with possession, possession with intent, or sale of a controlled substance. Often these cases come with an added twist. A forfeiture proceeding. Mississippi law allows a wide variety of property to be seized, and potentially forfeited, when it [...]
I've been following an interesting and most important discussion between some fellow criminal law bloggers. The issue is the sentencing disparity following a guilty plea as opposed to following trial. Those involved in the criminal law system are well aware of this practice - prosecutors routinely recommend plea deals far' [...]
I've been following an interesting and most important discussion between some fellow criminal law bloggers. The issue is the sentencing disparity following a guilty plea as opposed to following trial. Those involved in the criminal law system are well aware of this practice - prosecutors routinely recommend plea deals far [...]
I have posted more than once that talking to the police in a routine traffic stop or other encounter is a bad idea. Not surprisingly, this is an often reprised subject on other blogs as well. Today I ran across a great post on this topic by Robert Guest, [...]
I have posted more than once that talking to the police in a routine traffic stop or other encounter is a bad idea. Not surprisingly, this is an often reprised subject on other blogs as well. Today I ran across a great post on this topic by Robert Guest, [...]
In its second operation of the year, the Lafayette Count Metro Narcotics Unit busted 15 University of Mississippi [...]
About 300 state inmates will be removed from county jails, 154 from regional jails and 50 from' [...]
About 300 state inmates will be removed from county jails, 154 from regional jails and 50 from [...]
University police served indictments Thursday on 10 students. The 11th was out of state and will be served next week, police [...]
University police served indictments Thursday on 10 students. The 11th was out of state and will be served next week, police [...]
I field numerous calls from people interested in having a misdemeanor conviction expunged from their record. For those not familiar with the term, "expunge" simply means to erase the record of the conviction. A typical request is to expunge a conviction for public drunk, minor in possession, possession of drugs or other [...]
I field numerous calls from people interested in having a misdemeanor conviction expunged from their record. For those not familiar with the term, "expunge" simply means to erase the record of the conviction. A typical request is to expunge a conviction for public drunk, minor in possession, possession of drugs or other [...]
The 2008 Annual "Student Right to Know Report" has been released from the University of Mississippi. The Report details crime statistics from 2005 through 2007, and can be viewed here. The Oxford Eagle yesterday reported on Oxford and Ole Miss crime statistics, and stated the following regarding crime in Oxford:
For violent crimes [...]The 2008 Annual "Student Right to Know Report" has been released from the University of Mississippi. The Report details crime statistics from 2005 through 2007, and can be viewed here. The Oxford Eagle yesterday reported on Oxford and Ole Miss crime statistics, and stated the following regarding crime in Oxford:
For violent crimes [...]
...it can happen in Ohio. The story can be found 