by Cynthia Giles | Jan 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense
WHAT TO DO IF YOU’VE BEEN STOPPED FOR SHOPLIFTING Being stopped for shoplifting can be an unsettling experience. Your heart might be pumping, and you might be completely innocent. Your top priority should be to avoid digging a hole for yourself. Follow these tips to...
by Cynthia Giles | Jan 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense
YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA USE MIGHT HURT YOUR CRIMINAL DEFENSE Increasingly, many people are documenting their lives online using popular social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Unfortunately, what you post online might come back to haunt you. As...
by Cynthia Giles | Jan 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense
SHOULD CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS TESTIFY IN THEIR OWN DEFENSE? The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants you a privilege against self-incrimination. This means the prosecutor cannot force you to testify at your criminal trial, but you always retain the right to...
by Cynthia Giles | Jan 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STATE AND FEDERAL CRIME? Don’t make a federal crime out of it. We’ve all heard the phrase, but what does it really mean? What’s the difference between a federal crime and a state crime? This distinction can be very important if you’re...
by Cynthia Giles | Jan 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense
THE PRETRIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM IN COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA If you’re facing your first criminal offense charges in Columbia, South Carolina, you’ll probably be interested in learning more about the city’s Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI). This program allows...
by Cynthia Giles | Jan 9, 2021 | Criminal Defense
PROBABLE CAUSE AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM If you’ve ever watched Law & Order, you’ve heard the term probable cause bandied about – but what is probable pause and what role does it play in our criminal justice system? Probable cause relates to every citizen’s...
