The Law Office of Susan E. Allen, Attorney at Law, PLLC
Legal Blog
What are the penalties for a probation violation?
If you are on probation, it is critical that you follow the terms and conditions of your probation to avoid additional trouble. A violation is serious, and depending on the circumstances, you could find yourself facing a variety of far-reaching consequences. There are...
Expunging Your Record
Because the police and prosecutors sometimes arrest and prosecute without getting a conviction, and having an arrest record for any crime is not conducive to obtaining the job you are seeking, the General Assembly has devised a way to remove this blemish from your...
The Cops Want to Talk To You…Now What?
The Cops Want to Talk To You...Now What? You have no real idea why he's standing in front of you, but there he is...a detective with the local police department. He says he wants to "clear up" a few things and you have no way to know why he thinks you have any...
Expungement and Being a “First Offender”
In Virginia, you may seek an expungement if you are charged with the commission of a crime and (1) are acquitted, or (2) [a] nolle prosequi is taken or the charge is otherwise dismissed, including dismissal by accord and satisfaction pursuant to § 19.2-151. Va. Code §...
Confidentiality of Records in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
Although Virginia recognizes that juvenile offenders must be treated differently from adults, and place more emphasis on alternatives to incarceration, juveniles charged with criminal offenses can still face serious, potentially life-long consequences. Because the...
DMV and Demerit Points
When you are convicted of a traffic offense, DMV will probably assess "Demerit Points." If you accumulate 12 demerit points in 12 months, or 18 points in 24 months, you will be required to go to a driver improvement clinic and complete the driving clinic within 90...
Clemency: Restoration of Rights and Pardons
Currently, there are approximately 377,000 residents of Virginia who cannot vote as a result of a felony conviction. It's estimated that about 300,000 of those individuals have completed sentence. The effect of a felony conviction in Virginia is severe and life long...
What Happens When Cross Your Arms and Make a Threat?
The short answer to that question is that you may find yourself convicted of assault. Here's the story, around May 7, 2007, a bus driver and parent disagree about the treatment of that parent's child. The child was not allowed to ride the bust for a few days. The next...
Solicitation of Prostitution
Solicitation of Prostitution is defined by Va. Code § 18.2-346(B). This statute provides "a person who offers money or its equivalent to another for the purpose of engaging in fornication or adultery, or any act in violation of Va Code § 18.2-361, and thereafter does...
Score One for the Sixth Amendment
The Sixth Amendment provides that "[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right [among other things] [t]o be confronted with the witnesses against him." Once upon a time in Virginia, you could go to jail based on the words and numbers written on a...