Posted on November 06, 2017 in Driving Under the Influence

Last week was Halloween. The holiday is in resurgence with the popularity of the hit Netflix show Stranger Things, and, because it falls on a Tuesday, kids and adults alike spent the weekend before celebrating with parties and events.

With Halloween fun, as we all know too well from childhood and teenage years, comes mischief. Toilet paper rolls will be strewn across treetops, already shriveling pumpkins smashed in the streets, and, at some gatherings, a veritable witches’ brew of alcohol consumed. While toilet paper confetti and pumpkin punishment can get you in trouble, it is the alcohol-related offenses that can truly turn a fun night into a nightmare in the blink of a bleary eye. If your Halloween ended in a DUI or DWI, you will need an experienced Fairfield County DUI/DWI attorney.

Jail, Fines and Penalties, License Suspension, and IID Installation Are Among the DUI Penalties in Connecticut

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 Posted on October 24, 2017 in Driving Under the Influence

Many universities recently celebrated homecoming. Homecoming is a time of year when current university students celebrate the joys of campus life in autumn, that fairest of seasons, and when alumni return to their alma mater to relive glory days, reconnect with friends and former classmates, don school colors, and root for the home team. Tailgating for fall Saturday football games is already a rowdy affair, with revelers often grilling food and enjoying alcoholic beverages before noon. When combined with homecoming celebrations, tailgating can become downright raucous, with alumni consuming alcohol at increased rates.

It’s one thing if you’re a current student and can walk back from the stadium to your dorm or apartment. When you’re no longer a resident of the college town in which you’re celebrating Homecoming, post-tailgating travel involving a vehicle can be problematic. It’s no surprise that a DUI or DWI charge can result during or after Homecoming festivities. If your homecoming return has been soured with a DUI or DWI charge, an experienced Stamford DUI defense attorney will work to protect your legal rights.

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 Posted on October 17, 2017 in Drug Charges

Stamford, Connecticut is less than 40 miles from the New York metropolitan area. It is no secret that New York, like most all major metropolitan areas, is a major market when it comes to the distribution, possession, and consumption of drugs that are illegal under federal and state law. On the distribution side, whether on an organizational or individual level, demand, whether a factor of addiction or recreation or both, creates the market.

For example, cocaine has long been associated, rightly or wrongly, with the “work hard, play hard” characterization of Wall Street. MDMA (the active ingredient in “ecstasy”), on the other hand, has been associated more with young people, portrayed as pleasure-seeking at warehouse “raves.” The list goes on and on: marijuana, LSD, methamphetamine, and more. Whatever the drug, a possession, distribution, or consumption-related charge brought by a Connecticut criminal court is a very serious matter. In such times, a skilled Fairfield County criminal defense attorney will work to protect your legal rights.

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 Posted on October 10, 2017 in Juvenile Crimes

Adolescents are notorious for their hasty and often poor decision-making. While this type of behavior is often just a nuisance for parents, it can have serious consequences when the youth’s actions lead to criminal charges, as having a permanent criminal record can make it difficult to secure employment, find housing, join the military, or take advantage of educational opportunities. Fortunately, those who are prosecuted as juveniles may be able to have their records expunged, so if you or your child were convicted of an offense in juvenile court, it is critical to contact a Fairfield criminal defense attorney who can walk you through the process of erasing your criminal record.

Eligibility

When a minor commits a crime, his or her case will most likely be adjudicated in juvenile court. However, this is only true when the minor qualifies as a youthful offender, which means that he or she has not been charged with any serious offenses and does not have a prior criminal record. These offenders are generally given more privacy, as their proceedings are not public and are conducted separately from adult criminal matters. Furthermore, the records of youthful offenders are erased automatically when they turn 21 years old, but only if they:

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 Posted on October 03, 2017 in Drug Charges

In May, the Connecticut Legislature made some minor changes to the laws criminalizing the manufacture and sale of controlled substances. These changes will officially go into effect on October 1, 2017. Despite the clarifications made by Connecticut lawmakers, navigating the state’s drug-related statutes can be difficult, so if you have been charged with the manufacture, transport, or sale of a controlled substance, it is important to speak with an experienced Norwalk drug charges lawyer who can help you formulate a defense.

Narcotics and Hallucinogenic Substances

Under Connecticut law, it is unlawful to manufacture, sell, distribute, transport, possess (with the intent to sell), or administer controlled substances that qualify as:

• Narcotic substances; or
• Hallucinogenic substances.

Hallucinogenic substances are defined as including psychodysleptic substances, other than cannabis, that have a disorganizing or confusing effect upon the user’s mental processes or behaviors. Ingesting these types of substances can lead the user to experience visions, sounds, or sensations that are not based in reality. Common examples include mushrooms, peyote, PCP, and d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).

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 Posted on September 25, 2017 in Juvenile Crimes

As part of a broader mission to reduce juvenile prosecution and recidivism across the country, Governor Dannel Malloy introduced a bill that would raise the age of criminal responsibility to 21 years old. If passed, this bill could have extremely important repercussions for any youthful offenders being charged or prosecuted in Connecticut. If you or your child have been charged with a criminal offense and you have questions about the current law or how the new law could affect you, please contact an experienced Stamford criminal defense attorney who can address your concerns.

The Benefits of Reform

Last year, Governor Malloy proposed a similar law that would have raised the age when a juvenile could be charged as an adult to 21 years old. Although the law stalled in the Connecticut Legislature, the new bill has received support from a number of different groups in the state. The reintroduction is also part of a country-wide effort to lower recidivism among youth offenders. In fact, at least three other states are considering similar proposals.

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 Posted on September 18, 2017 in Drug Charges

In July, seventeen individuals were charged with federal drug trafficking of both powder and crack cocaine in central Connecticut. Although drug trafficking is also prohibited by state law, the defendants in this case face federal charges as a result of their use of the U.S. mail to transport the substances across state lines. In addition to drug trafficking, the individuals are charged with conspiracy to distribute, and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute. If convicted, the defendants could face a minimum of ten years in prison.

All drug charges should be taken seriously, but federal drug offenses are even more aggressively investigated and prosecuted than their state counterparts, so if you have been accused of federal drug trafficking, it is critical to speak with an experienced Norwalk drug charges attorney who will aggressively represent your interests.

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 Posted on September 11, 2017 in Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence (DUI) is considered a serious crime in Connecticut and even a first time offense can result in jail time, a hefty fine, and a 45 day license suspension. Fortunately, there are programs available to first time offenders that can help them avoid these types of harsh penalties, so if you were arrested for driving under the influence, you should consider speaking with an experienced Fairfield DUI attorney who can explain your legal options.

The Alcohol Education Program

In Connecticut, some first time DUI offenders qualify for admittance into the Alcohol Education Program (AEP). The AEP is a state diversionary program that requires participants to:

• Complete weekly one hour classes over a ten to fifteen week period; and
• Attend a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Victim Impact Panel.

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 Posted on September 04, 2017 in Traffic Violations

In Connecticut, law enforcement officers issue tickets to drivers who have committed either an infraction or a violation. While infractions are not considered crimes and only require that drivers pay a fine, violations are more serious and may involve a court appearance. Traffic tickets appear on a person’s driving history and in some cases may also add points to a driver’s license, which in turn can cause his or her insurance premiums to increase. Retaining an experienced Fairfield traffic ticket attorney can help drivers avoid these consequences, so if you were pulled over and ticketed for violating a traffic law, do not hesitate to contact a member of our legal team today.

Infractions vs. Violations

Most traffic tickets are issued for infractions, which include citations for non-dangerous moving violations, such as a broken taillight. These offenses are relatively minor, do not result in the assessment of points on a person’s license, and usually only require the payment of a fine via the mail, although drivers can attempt to have their infraction dismissed by attending a hearing or submitting a letter of explanation to the court. Failing to pay a fine on time or to respond or appear in court, however, can result in more severe consequences. In these cases, the court will find that the driver committed the infraction and require him or her to pay the fine and an additional default penalty. If a driver fails to pay these penalties, his or her driving privileges could be suspended.

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 Posted on August 28, 2017 in Criminal Defense

In 2011, Connecticut passed a law that created the Risk Reduction Earned Credit (RREC) program. Under this program, eligible inmates of any security level could participate in classes and programs that could help them earn five days off of their sentence every month. In 2016, however, the Department of Corrections Commissioner authorized changes to how the credits are awarded. The updated policy creates an incentive for participants to progress to the lowest security risk level, where it is possible to earn more credits per month. Those who are assigned to the highest risk level, on the other hand, earn the least amount of credits. To learn more about the RREC program and whether you are eligible to earn credits, please contact a member of our dedicated criminal defense legal team today.

Security Risk Levels

Before assigning someone a security risk level, official assess a variety of factors when an offender is first admitted to a facility, including:

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