Prosecutors build their cases on any type of evidence they can get their hands on, but the bulk of their strategies are built on witness testimony. Whether from a police officer, an informant, an associate of the defendant, or even a jailhouse “snitch,” these...
Drug Crimes
What are the penalties for drug offenses in Missouri?
Missouri laws are harsh when it comes to drug charges. All but the most minor marijuana possession charges are felonies. State law divides illegal drugs by type on a schedule, ranked from I to V. Schedule I drugs are considered the most dangerous with no safe medical...
The opioid crisis isn’t over — and addicts are still going to jail
Americans are struggling with a lot of different issues right now, including social, medical and economic uncertainties. Those problems are likely adding to the increase in opioid overdoses that officials are now seeing in more than 30 states. An addiction to drugs...
Is predictive policing biased?
Those who praise predictive policing do so in part because they say it is not biased. Essentially, a computer system uses artificial intelligence to guess where a crime may happen. The computer alerts the officers, who go to that location. Since it is a computer...
Possessing or taking someone else’s pills can lead to charges
What most people call prescription medications are actually controlled substances, which means there are strict laws in place that govern the possession, use and dispensation of those medicines. You have to have a prescription to obtain those medications because there...
How a felony drug charge can affect a student’s future
It’s common for college students to experiment with drug use. A drug possession charge can have many implications on a student’s future. Missouri’s drug possession laws are strict compared to other states and can result in a felony charge for a wide variety of...
As states get looser on marijuana use, police are cracking down
State lawmakers around the country may be increasingly receptive to recreational use of marijuana, but those charged with enforcing marijuana laws are actually getting tougher. Data released recently by the FBI shows that U.S. law enforcement officers made 663,367...
A drug conspiracy charge can involve as few as two people
When a news item about a drug conspiracy turns up, it often involves a "ring" or a large group of conspirators, and thousands if not millions of dollars in potential profits. However, a drug conspiracy may only involve as few as two people willing to act as...
Indictment results in multiple drug charges
People in Missouri might often wonder how a person ends up being charged with a particular type of crime. There are many factors that can go into these situations and the process is not the same for everyone. One thing that contributes to the process is whether or not...
A closer look at drug court in Missouri
Many people who commit drug-related crimes in Missouri do so because they are struggling from drug addiction, themselves. If you count yourself among them, you may be able to avoid having to serve time behind bars by doing something that can also help you kick your...