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Probation can give you the opportunity to serve your sentence outside of jail, but it comes with rules. Missing an appointment, failing a drug test, getting charged with another offense, or willfully avoiding contact with your probation officer can quickly put you back in front of a judge. But does every probation violation mean you’re going to jail? Not necessarily. North Carolina law gives courts several ways to respond to probation violations, and what happens next often depends on the type of violation, your probation history, and the circumstances [...]

Seeing flashing blue lights and a line of stopped vehicles ahead can make anyone nervous, even when they’ve done nothing wrong. For drivers in Lumberton, Pembroke, and other parts of Robeson County, encountering a DWI checkpoint is a common reality. During holidays and other periods associated with increased alcohol-related crashes, the chances of getting stopped by officers only increase. Entering a checkpoint does not automatically mean you are suspected of impaired driving. However, what happens during those few minutes can quickly become the basis for a longer investigation, roadside [...]

You believed you were in danger. You acted to protect yourself. But when law enforcement arrived... you were the one placed in handcuffs. Can that really happen? Yes. A person can be arrested or charged after an altercation even when they believe they acted self-defense. This, however, does not mean that a self-defense claim has been rejected. It can simply mean that officers found enough evidence at the scene to establish probable cause for the arrest. Self-defense cases are rarely decided by a statement or one visible injury. The [...]

Being arrested is stressful, confusing, and often overwhelming. In the heat of the moment, a person may panic, ask questions, pull away, hesitate, or simply fail to understand what an officer is telling them to do. Sometimes, those split-second reactions can lead to an additional criminal charge: resisting arrest. In North Carolina, resisting arrest is often charged under the broad offense of “resisting, delaying, or obstructing a public officer.” While it’s easy to picture resisting arrest as a physical fight with police, the reality is more complex. A person [...]

Most DWI charges in North Carolina are handled in state court. A driver is pulled over by local police, a sheriff’s deputy, or a state trooper, and the case moves through the county courthouse. But in some situations, an impaired driving charge can become a federal DWI. And that can change where the case is handled, who prosecutes it, and what the defendant may be facing. For drivers in places like Jacksonville, Fayetteville, Wilmington, and other parts of southeastern North Carolina, this issue is more relevant than many people [...]

If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense, one of the first dates you’ll be given is your arraignment. For many, it can feel like just another court appearance, but missing it is a mistake that can quickly make a difficult situation much worse. Understanding what an arraignment is and why it matters can help you avoid unnecessary consequences and stay in control of your case. What Is an Arraignment? An arraignment is typically your first formal court appearance after criminal charges have been filed. It’s where the court [...]