St. Louis Legal Blog

Whether you have been convicted of a drug crime and are currently awaiting a trial or whether you are behind bars as you pay for the consequences of your decisions, one of the best things you can do to overcome your past is to get professional help. At Frank, Juengel & Radefeld Attorneys at Law, we have helped many people in Missouri to work through the process of dealing with drug crimes and offenses. 

With such an incredible array of addiction treatment programs to consider, you may find yourself questioning if there is a certain approach that will work most appropriately with your lifestyle and current situation. Being aware of your options and researching programs to find one that feels like the best fit is important as you facilitate your healing. According to helpguide.org, one of the first things you should remember is that recovery from drug addiction does not look the same for everyone. That being said, you must acknowledge the fact that you desire to change and are willing to change. From here, you have to maintain a strong commitment to overcoming your unhealthy habits and replacing them with positive feelings of empowerment and self-control. 

We note in our immediately preceding blog post that police sobriety checkpoints are conducted "subject to a number of stated rules that operate against unbridled police conduct." Our September 4 entry stressed that many states, including Missouri, deem DUI roadblocks legal so long as they conform tightly to a number of stated restrictions.

A recently concluded criminal case from another state is quite instructive regarding checkpoint operation and the parameters of legality. We summarize it below for our readers in Missouri and elsewhere.

There is little else as unsettling as a parent than allowing your teenager to go out for the night in Missouri and not being able to monitor his or her behavior. Rather, you have to trust that your child will behave responsibly and not get into trouble, hang around the wrong people and end up paying the consequences. As a parent, some of your concerns may be that your child will get involved in drugs, alcohol or violent crimes that will land him or her behind bars. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to lessen the risks of your child becoming a part of something dangerous. 

One of the most important things that you can do is to discuss right and wrong behavior with your children from a young age. As you reiterate what you have taught, you should be aware of how you behave and demonstrate what you meant by being an example of how you wish for your children to behave. Do not be afraid to talk candidly with your children about how their negative behavior can create danger and eventually result in costly consequences. 

Serving time in prison is a period for many criminals in Missouri to reevaluate their life and identify areas where they can make positive changes that will allow them to live a better life once they are released from prison. One of the things they can do is to get a job that will allow them to sustain themselves, learn new skills and interact with people in a healthy social setting. However, when an employer sees that a person has previously been convicted of a crime, they may be skeptical to hire that person before even allowing an interview. Despite the odds, people who work hard can eventually find employment that will bring with it invaluable opportunities to change and grow. 

According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, employers should use thoughtful consideration when referencing criminal records. In fact, many states have limitations on what information is publicized to employers in an effort to allow people who have served time the opportunity to prove themselves on an equal playing field as other candidates. Employers are not allowed to discriminate in making decisions regarding hiring, termination or temporary suspensions.