If you think that you have a right to refuse a breath analysis test, you would not be alone. However, you would also be incorrect. Due to implied consent laws, you give your consent to DUI tests the moment you use a public access road. But what can an officer actually...
Drug Crimes
A new bill could end mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes
Based on South Carolina's current criminal statutes, a charge of drug trafficking represents the highest level of drug-related offenses. As noted by The Sun News, a conviction carries a “mandatory minimum” sentencing requirement. Critics of what many say is an...
When do you have to disclose a drug conviction on your FAFSA?
If you plan to compete for government-backed grants, loans, and work-study funds, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by your college's or university's deadline. This deadline often comes early in the academic year, so don't let it...
What is drug court?
Drug courts are a newer idea in criminal justice. They focus on helping you if you face a drug charge rather than punishing you. Going through drug court can be a second chance. It can enable you to change your life and head down a better path. According to the Ninth...
Can authorities search your car without a warrant?
During a South Carolina traffic stop, you maintain certain rights. Knowing what these rights are and when to exercise them may work in your favor. The law enforcement officer who stops you may try to get your consent to search your vehicle if he or she suspects...
Several jurisdictions are banning no-knock warrants
People often move and fail to update all the different organizations that have the address on file. When someone else moves into the last home that person lived in and police later pursue a warrant for the person’s arrest, the new residents might find themselves...
Marijuana laws in South Carolina
Crossing state lines can be confusing when it comes to marijuana laws. While some states allow legal marijuana sales for recreational use, others only approve cannabis for medical purposes and still, other states do not allow legal marijuana use in any form. We...
A closer look at drug court in Berkeley County
Residents of Berkeley County who are facing drug charges or dealing with a substance abuse disorder may now have a new treatment option available to them. Berkeley County’s drug court began accepting drug offenders during the fall of 2017, making drug court more...
Can drug charges affect student aid?
Like most college students, you rely on student loans and grants to continue your education. For most students, the big concern with financial aid is maintaining good grades to keep from losing it. What students do not always think about is how criminal convictions...
Drug dealer sentenced for murder in student’s overdose
When a 26-year-old South Carolina college student was found dead in her off-campus housing of a drug overdose, the death didn't appear to be accidental. She had been depressed and evidence led investigators to first classify the death as a suicide.Then, they called it...
