Maryland Law Blog

Maryland criminal law already requires police officers to notify a student’s school if the student is arrested outside of school for any one of a long list of crimes. Now, the legislature is considering a bill that would add arrests for possession or administration of a controlled substance - known commonly as “drug dealing” - to that list, according to a recent article in The Herald-Mail.

The bill, introduced by Washington/Allegheny Delegate LeRoy E. Myers, Jr., adds drug crimes to the list of reportable crimes already included in the Safe Schools Act, such as murder, malicious defacing of property, and possessing firearms. Del. Myers says that he believes the current version of the Safe Schools Act overlooked drug crimes and that if schools were aware of a student’s arrest on a drug-related charge, the school may be able to help the student avoid similar arrests in the future.

Not everyone supports the change, however. Betsy Fox Tolentino, a staff attorney with the Office of the Public Defender, testified against the bill in the state legislature. She said that the current bill strikes an important balance between keeping schools safe and preserving the presumption that those arrested are innocent until they are proven guilty in court.

Being arrested or charged with a crime in Maryland can have a serious impact on your life, even before trial begins. If you or someone you love is facing drug charges in Maryland, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Maryland drug crime defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer. We will fight to protect your legal rights and seek the best possible outcome in your case. Call 866-444-6363 to set up a free and confidential case evaluation.

Maryland’s state legislature is currently considering two bills that would make domestic violence a crime separate from other assaults, according to a recent article in The Maryland Gazette. A separate domestic violence charge would allow the state to keep better track of domestic violence and abuse statistics and make it easier to punish repeat offenders with increasingly severe penalties, according to lawmakers.

The bills - one in each chamber of the legislature - follow actions by Maryland counties to distinguish and track domestic violence occurrences. In particular, Prince George’s County recently established a system of protective orders for domestic violence cases.

The new bill would add Maryland to the list of 41 U.S. states that already treat domestic violence as a separate offense from simple assault. Maryland’s law would also require certain penalties for those convicted of more than one incident of domestic violence. This bill proposes a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for a domestic violence conviction, plus an additional thirty days for each conviction after the first.

Like many violent crimes, the penalties for assault in Maryland can be severe, especially if you have already received one or more criminal convictions in the past. If you have been charged with assault in Maryland, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Maryland criminal defense attorneys at Alpert Schreyer. We will examine your case carefully and fight for the best possible outcome. Call 866-444-6363 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

The Maryland Capitol Police, who provide security and law enforcement services for Maryland government buildings in Baltimore and Annapolis, recently acquired a video analysis system designed to make security video images more clear. The new technology is intended to make it easier for the Maryland Capitol Police to spot wrongdoing, according to a recent press release.

The system, known as “dTective,” is designed to analyze security camera recordings and to compensate for shortcomings in videos, such as bad lighting, foggy or rainy weather conditions, and lack of clarity. Security officers hope that, by getting clearer security camera images, they will be able to identify suspects more easily and to save time and money on investigations. The system can also blur or remove images of innocent passersby, thus protecting their privacy if the camera footage is used in court.

The dTective system is manufactured by Ocean Systems of Burtonsville. The system chosen by the Maryland Capitol Police is a mobile version that was paid for with a grant from the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.

Technology continues to play a large role in the investigation of Maryland crimes. Since jurors are used to computers running so much of our daily lives, they often do not question the results technology produces - even if those results are clearly wrong. Experienced criminal defense attorneys such as those at Alpert Schreyer know how to ask the right questions to determine if technology was used correctly, and how to challenge technology-based evidence in court.

If you have been charged with a crime in Maryland, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Maryland criminal defense lawyers at Alpert Schreyer. We will examine your case carefully and fight for the best possible outcome. Call 866-444-6363 today for a free and confidential consultation.