As you may well be aware, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam recently signed House Bill 2038, with the goal of decreasing the number of incarcerations in the Commonwealth for probation violations. I'll explain the history of this controversial bill and how it came to be in more detail below. As al...
Several new laws that went into effect on July 1 will make a big difference for those convicted of a first-offense DUI in Virginia. Senate bill 439 and House Bill 1336 both passed and with their passage comes a significant reduction in requirements and punishments for those convicted of first-off...
Larceny laws in Virginia have relaxed significantly in recent years, and with the new passage of House Bill 2290, the trend is continuing. Since 2018, the Virginia grand larceny threshold (minimum theft amount that can result in the charge) has been on the rise, jumping from $200 to $500 in 201...
Gun control laws were a hot topic during Virginia legislative sessions in 2020 and 2021, and Virginia's House passed several new laws that went into effect July 1. One law in particular that is worth knowing about seriously impacts the gun rights of those who have been convicted of assault and ...
Learn about new penalties for robbery in 2021.
Learn the important details and caveats of new Virginia marijuana laws for 2021.
As of July 1, 2021, a lot has changed with criminal laws in Virginia. Marijuana legalization obviously comes to mind, but there have also been important changes in regard to robbery, DUIs, firearms, sentencing, and more. Below, I'll highlight the big legislative changes you should know about—ju...
A domestic violence charge is one of the most difficult challenges someone can face—it can have a life-altering impact on your family, your relationships, and even your ability to find work or housing in the future. But just because this is a challenging accusation to overcome doesn't mean that t...
If you've been charged with larceny, otherwise known as theft, you are likely wondering how serious the crime is and how severe a punishment you will face. Virginia law has changed significantly in the past several years, with the monetary value of grand vs petty larceny shifting significantly....
Having a criminal record in Virginia can make life far more difficult than anyone would like, and unfortunately, getting a crime expunged (removed) from your record in Virginia is especially challenging. Without an expungement, your conviction and charge will remain on your record for life, makin...
When many people hear the word “felony,” they think of long jail sentences, unaffordable fines, and a permanent criminal record that will make life difficult if not impossible. While it's true that a felony conviction is never something you want on your record, in reality there are many classes...
As a Virginia driver, you're certainly aware of the fact that far too many people drive while using their phones. It's an easy habit to get into, especially when there have been few repercussions for those who use their phones while operating a vehicle. As a result of Virginia House Bill 874, a...
Anyone who has been in a long-term relationship knows that disagreements happen. Sometimes they settle on their own, but other times they escalate to the point where one partner calls the police to mediate the dispute, but this can result in serious repercussions for the accused party that cann...
Learn about Fairfax police's new body cameras.
Marijuana decriminalization in Virginia first went into effect on July 1, 2020, and marijuana laws continue to evolve, often resulting in limited punishments for offenses that were once quite serious. Some upcoming changes to Virginia laws will likely continue to make marijuana arrests less lik...
Learn more about larceny laws in Viriginia and how they may affect you.
DUI charges in Virginia are some of the toughest to overcome in court. Even a first-time DUI in Virginia is a criminal misdemeanor, and carries the potential for jail time, up to $2500 in fines, loss of driving privileges, being placed on probation, ignition interlock and a permanent negative e...
Find out about how to get out of a reckless driving ticket in Virginia from Prince William County reckless driving attorney John Kassabian.
If you've been keeping an eye on Fairfax County news, you've probably heard a lot about Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney Steve Descano, who was elected to the position in 2019. During his time as prosecutor, the Commonwealth's Office in Fairfax County has taken on a more progressive appro...
As conversations around police brutality continue to circulate across the country, the police have been at the center recent news, and Virginia is no exception. In the last few months, some proposed changes to laws around police assault have been hotly debated. Senate Bill 5032, which called ...
Changes to Virginia drug laws are definitely a subject of interest in the Commonwealth in 2020. Not only has marijuana possession been decriminalized, but under Senate Bill 667, Virginia legislative code has been amended so that anyone who calls for emergency medical help for themselves or some...
New changes to Virginia protective order laws allow for longer restraining orders for violent acts.
If you ever use a firearm in a group situation, you'll definitely want to be educated about some changes to Virginia firearms laws. The changes have sparked debates across the state, so you may have already heard about them, but it's important to make sure you fully understand what is now requi...
While loosened restrictions on marijuana possession in Virginia have left many people breathing a sigh of relief, the changes have not eliminated certain issues associated with marijuana possession charges. A case in point is the fact that Virginia's first offender program is no longer availabl...
In 2018, when the threshold (aka, minimum requirement to be charged) for grand larceny in Virginia jumped from $200 to $500, it was the first increase in the threshold in nearly 40 years. But on July 1 of this year, we saw the threshold amount increase again, this time from $500 to $1000. While t...
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