Connecticut Criminal Defense Law Blog

The complexity of the legal system is such that no one should think about trying to enter that maze without the assistance of an experienced attorney. That's especially true in Connecticut cases in which drug-related charges are involved. If you are facing multiple drug crime charges, it's even more necessary to be in touch with an attorney in order to understand your rights and explore all possible options.

The case of a young Wilton woman serves as a possible illustration. Police charged the 19-year-old woman this past week with a whole array of drug charges stemming from the possibly drug-related death of her 20-year-old boyfriend late last month.

A listing of United States cities ranking how risky they are for Internet crime is out. Not a single Connecticut city is among the 50 riskiest cities compiled by Sperling's BestPlaces and Symantec, maker of Norton computer security products. That may be good news or bad news, depending on your point of view.

As many people know, Internet crime comes in many stripes. It can involve fraud, sexual offenses and domestic violence in the form of online harassment. Connecticut has its share of such activity and governments are not shy about prosecuting suspected offenders. Those facing such charges owe it to themselves to have an experienced attorney working for them.

No matter how stratified the economy may seem, with the 1 percenters on one end and the 99 percenters on the other, the great equalizer often times is the legal system. In Connecticut, as is often obvious through the stories that make into the news media, authorities take an equal opportunity approach in filing charges for such things as drunk driving.

Charges of driving under the influence (DUI) are possibly so common that it is easy to forget just how serious the consequences can be. It doesn't take a conviction to experience them. The stigma can begin the minute the allegation is made public, especially in this environment of instant social media. It's wise to call an attorney immediately when faced with such charges.

Suspected violent crimes are issues that are naturally laden with emotion. That can infringe on a rational pursuit of justice. The legal system in Connecticut, while an adversarial one, is intended to provide a forum in which residents can be assured that justice is dispensed after objective deliberation.

Anyone facing serious charges stemming from alleged domestic violence face a particularly negative atmosphere in the courts. That's why it is so important to have an experienced attorney speaking strongly on their behalf and protecting their rights. This can be especially crucial in cases in which the mental capacity of the defendant comes into question. Whether conditions warrant consideration of an affirmative defense of mental disease or defect, or whether a person is capable of contributing to their own defense, are matters that need careful handling.

When a crime lab makes mistakes, the victims, the accused, the convicted and the general public, all have reason to be troubled. Victims and their families may be concerned that those who have harmed them will not be held accountable. The wrongfully accused and convicted rightfully lament they may never be exonerated. Finally, the general public can understandably complain that the justice system too often fails all of us.

Thankfully for residents of Connecticut, a significant state crime lab has regained its accreditation and may return to processing criminal evidence in a fair and time-sensitive manner. However, it will likely be some time before the lab recovers control of its backlogs of DNA evidence related to everything from homicides to sex crimes.

The pervasiveness of the various "Law and Order" series on television has had an interesting influence on the culture of America. Regardless of where one lives, Connecticut or elsewhere, chances are everyone has had some exposure to the shows. That can be a good thing and a bad thing.

On one hand it affords a slight glimpse into a system that most people will fortunately never experience otherwise. On the other, a person facing drug charges is likely to be crestfallen when their Law and Order expectations don't match reality. With all the nuances possible in the legal system, it is critical to have the help of an attorney.

The steamroller of public outrage is beginning to build speed in East Hartford against a doctor who is alleged to have sexually assaulted one of his patients. As the man sits incarcerated in connection with the one case, investigators report they are working 24-7 to find other possible victims and cases. They've expanded their probe into Hartford and Windsor.

Instances of sexual assault cannot be taken lightly. When they are discovered and proven, those responsible need to be held responsible. But such action needs to be taken within the confines of the judicial system, which rests on the presumption of innocence and an obligation on the part of the government to prove any allegations of criminal wrongdoing beyond a reasonable doubt. Anyone accused of such crimes must be afforded those rights.

The actor noted for his role as Capt. Benjamin Sisko in the 1990s television series "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" is being brought up on charges of driving under the influence (DUI) in Connecticut.

Police say 63-year-old Avery Brooks was arrested last weekend in Wilton at around 10 p.m. Sunday. Authorities say they were tipped off by another motorist about an erratic driver on the road and, upon responding, stopped Brooks. No details of the arrest are available at the time this post is being written. It's unclear what actions police took to confirm Brooks' actual condition. He is due to be arraigned next week in Norwalk.

The bane of child exploitation through the Internet is something that authorities are striving to address. The web-like nature of this technology system is such, though, that it takes unprecedented levels of cooperation between enforcement agencies. Leads that can start in Connecticut can wind up taking investigators to other states or all over the globe, forcing typical police attitudes about turf and jurisdiction to take a back seat as they seek to close cases.

Because of the breadth of geography over which internet crime cases can be pursued, Connecticut residents who find themselves facing such charges owe it to themselves to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney.