Criminal and Civil Aspects of Domestic Battery Cases in Cobb County
We’re angry people. Most of us keep a lid on it most of the time. But about 10 percent of people regularly lose control and violently express their anger. The target of this anger could be direct, like a family member, or indirect, like the Democrats. In both cases, a household member often bears the […]
How Jail Release Energizes a Criminal Defense
The jailhouse blues are real, and they affect legal defenses and mental health. 20 percent of county jail inmates have a serious mental illness. Incarceration itself substantially or partially causes these mental illnesses. Confinement causes the body to produce catecholamines, the “fight or flight” stress hormone. Neither is an option in jail. Since defendants cannot […]
A Quick Five-Step Guide to Retail Theft Matters
During arrests, police officers use strobe lights on their vehicles and in their flashlights to confuse and disorient suspects. This technique often works, especially if the defendant hasn’t been in serious trouble before. When these cases go to court, prosecutors often stay with the shock-and-awe approach. Once again, this approach is usually effective if the […]
July 1 is the New January 1
Several important criminal laws go into effect in Georgia on July 1. Most are in line with the prevailing “get tough on crime” attitude in the statehouse. Senate Bill 44 imposes a five-year mandatory prison sentence for gang-related offenses and an additional five years for recruiting minors to commit crimes on behalf of the gang. […]
Waiting for Trial: Ten Years and Counting
Many murder defendants look forward to their release dates after they’ve been incarcerated for a decade. One Georgia man who’s served this much time is still waiting for his day in court. It’s unclear why the man has languished in jail for so long. Gregory Edwards, the Dougherty County district attorney, said some of the […]
Defending Assault Cases in Marietta GA
Beginning in the early 1990s, the aggravated assault arrest rate began dropping nationwide. Then, the arrest rate leveled off in the early 2010s. Coronavirus lockdowns in 2020 accelerated a trend of rising assault arrest rates in Marietta, GA. Lots of people felt lots of pressure in 2020, and normal outlets, like the corner bar, were […]
Cash Bail Measure Fails
Lawmakers couldn’t agree on a compromise measure to expand cash bail, and the legislative session expired with the matter still up in the air. The Georgia House voted 95-81 on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 63, which would have required cash or property bail for 31 additional crimes, including some misdemeanors. But the House and […]
Is Domestic Violence a Big Deal?
It depends on who you ask. Most defendants don’t think domestic violence is a big deal, especially if the alleged victim didn’t have to go to a hospital. Before the pandemic, many prosecutors felt the same way, especially if the two people were involved in a divorce or other civil dispute at the time of […]
Hate Crimes on the Rise in Georgia
According to the FBI, which finally released hate crime statistics for 2021, these infractions increased 22 percent in Georgia. Advocates are even more concerned about a 20 percent decline in the number of agencies that reported these incidents. Religion, sexual orientation, and ethnicity were the most common hate crimes violations in Georgia. Anti-Defamation League Southeast […]
Politician Urges FBI to Crack Down on Violent Crimes
Under pressure from U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, FBI Director Christopher Wray promised to focus on several different areas and stem the violent crime uptick in Georgia. Initially, Director Wray highlighted “traditional drivers” such as drugs, weapons, and gangs. He also expressed concern about an “alarming uptick” in violent juvenile crimes. Many at-risk children didn’t go […]
