Maryland State Prisons

This article covers what you need to know if a loved one is arrested and sentenced to prison. It will also help you understand and  navigate the prison process as well as inform you on: How to locate and communicate with the prisoner once arrested. How to find constructive ways to express your support and…

Federally Assisted Drug and Alcohol Treatment For many homeless people, life can move from self-imposed isolation to episodes of depression and drug abuse. Fortunately, the federal government works through community health centers across the nation that help the homeless by directly providing primary care services, including alcohol and substance abuse counseling and treatment. It is…

Due to today's search technology, nearly anyone has informational access to other people's lives, including whether someone has a criminal record. According to the American Progress for Justice, over 70 million Americans have a criminal record that can come- up on background checks. Criminal Records are Publicly Accessible Purpose of Expungement The primary purpose of expunging…

This article covers questions you may have on the pre-indictment phase in Federal Court. It covers the period before a Grand Jury is empaneled to hear the prosecutor's evidence against you based on their criminal investigation so far.  At this point, charges have not been filed, but prosecutors and agents will likely still investigate you.…

There are many different types of criminal defense lawyers. Most spend their time in state courts defending clients in state criminal actions. Other criminal defense attorney practice in both federal and state courts. This article focuses mainly on the federal criminal defense attorney. Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys If you are a target in a federal…

Each state has its criminal justice system made up of legislative bodies that enact criminal laws and the policing agencies that enforce them. The same is true for the federal criminal justice system. Federal Department of Justice The Department of Justice leads the federal justice system. The federal justice system has jurisdiction over crimes involving…

At the sentencing hearing, both the prosecutor and defense counsel will have reviewed the probation report and supporting documents and statements. Counsel will present their respective sentencing arguments to the court. The offender will also be present. The defense will argue there are mitigating circumstances supporting a reduced sentence, while the prosecution will argue there are aggravating factors to support an enhanced sentence.

INS Detention, Immigration Bond & Removal Hearings United States immigration laws have significantly changed over the past few years. These changes have occurred mostly in the detention, deportation, and removal of non-citizens with criminal convictions. Immigrants facing removal are much more likely to be detained by immigration authorities. The agency in charge of immigration enforcement…

The federal court system is made up of three interconnected judicial levels: 94 District Courts (Trial Courts), 13 Circuit Courts (Appellate Courts), 1 Supreme Court (Highest Court In The Land) District Courts - Federal Trial Courts The federal district courts are the federal trial courts. Each federal judicial district court has at least one Federal…

This article covers the major categories of federal criminal law and the government agencies that enforce them, including the U.S. Attorneys that prosecute defendants in federal district court.  Federal Crimes And Enforcement Agencies Inside the federal court are those lawyers, judges, and administrators that make up the workings of the federal criminal justice system. The…

This article covers the main stages of a criminal jury trial. You will learn how the different parts of the trial system function within the overall objective of seeing a fair and just verdict. We will summarize the major stages of a jury trial, from jury selection to jury verdict and the defendant's right to…

Once convicted of a crime in a federal district court, your lawyer may determine there are viable grounds to appeal the conviction based on a court error of law. There are precise procedural rules your lawyer must follow to secure your right to appeal.   This article provides a summary of a very complex legal procedure.…

What is Alcoholism? Alcoholism, also known as "alcohol dependence," is an obsessive craving to consume alcohol. Alcohol abuse, at one time, was viewed primarily as a moral problem. Although today, most medical researchers view alcoholism as a disease that activates obsessive-compulsive neural behavior. According to federal data, less than a third of all people with…

This article covers what happens when the defendant on bail fails to appear for court, flees, and bail enforcement providers such as bounty hunters are used to locate and recapture the defendant. We will also cover what happens when the defendant flees the state and must be extradited back to the state in which the…