Charleston Legal Blog

Can my criminal case go into the pretrial intervention (pti) program?

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Friday, May 18, 2018.

What Is Pre-Trial Intervention Or PTI?

If you are charged with certain crimes in the state of South Carolina, then Pretrial Intervention ("PTI") is a diversionary program that could be the best option for you to avoid being prosecuted and convicted of that crime. Upon successful completion of PTI, the person charged with a crime has the opportunity to have his or her charges dismissed and expunged from his or her criminal record. Each circuit solicitor in the state of South Carolina, pursuant to Section 17-22-10 of S.C. Code of Laws, is given much discretion to establish and run their own version of the PTI program. However, the law does prohibit specific people from entering the PTI program. That is why it is so important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney to discuss whether your case would qualify for PTI.

Prescription pain relievers and criminal charges

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Wednesday, April 25, 2018.

Prescription pain medications are necessary to provide relief to those with certain medical issues, such as chronic pain or recovery from surgery. Unfortunately, these drugs also have criminal uses. Painkillers are not legal for every person. They are only legal for those with prescriptions and in specific amounts.

You may face jail time and fines for misusing pain relief medications. Here are some examples of the most common prescription drug offenses.

An overview of disorderly conduct for South Carolina students

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Thursday, March 22, 2018.

As a college student, you work hard to pursue your scholarly goals and get good grades. Cramming for exams and hitting the books causes a lot of stress, and sometimes you need to let loose. Whether you are just hanging out with friends or drinking alcohol at a crazy party, you may find yourself arrested because of disorderly conduct.

But what exactly does "disorderly conduct" mean? It is essential for you to know about this crime and how may it affect your schooling.

What happens if you are caught with a fake ID?

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

As a college student under age 21, you may have used a fake ID to purchase alcohol or enter a club or bar. While this may seem like a common and not-so-serious issue, the truth is that if police catch you with a fake ID, you could face serious consequences.

If you are considering using a fake ID or if police have already caught you using one, you should know the risks you face and the possible penalties in Charleston, South Carolina.

Can you get a DUI with a prescription drug?

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.

When people think about DUIs, it is usually alcohol that comes to mind. However, you were pulled over when you were taking a prescription medication that made you feel a little groggy, and the officer accused you of driving under the influence. How can it be possible for you or other South Carolina residents to get a DUI while taking a completely legal medication, and with nothing to drink in your system?

Many prescription medications can impair driving, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. You might not realize that a medication a doctor prescribed you could get you into trouble behind the wheel. Furthermore, you may have a medical condition, such as chronic anxiety or heart disease, that makes it necessary to take a prescription drug for a long period of time.

College kids can gain criminal records by possessing alcohol

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Tuesday, January 23, 2018.

There are a number of violations that the state of South Carolina can charge a college kid with when it comes to alcohol. Perhaps considered relatively innocuous is the minor in possession code section. However, it is a crime to possess alcohol when under the age of 21, much less drink it.

Section 20-7-8920 relates to precisely this crime, the one applicable to the college kid who is engaging in underage drinking, the favorite pastime of many young adults as they leave home to live on campus.

3 things you should never do after a DUI arrest

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in DUI on Tuesday, December 26, 2017.

When a police officer places you under arrest for drunk driving, you likely feel frustration and confusion. You may feel the urge to argue with law enforcement or represent yourself. However, making these mistakes after a DUI arrest will only make things worse for you.

If you say or do the wrong things while under arrest, you can face harsher DUI penalties under South Carolina law than you would otherwise. Here are three things you should never do when you are facing a potential DUI conviction.

3 things to never do after a car accident

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Sunday, November 26, 2017.

Most people will become involved in a car accident at some point in their lives. According to data collected by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety in 2015, there was approximately one car crash every 3.9 minutes in the state. One person suffered an injury from a car crash approximately once every nine minutes.

There are certain things you should definitely do after a motor vehicle accident. You should exchange insurance information with the other driver and take photos of the scene. However, there are certain actions you need to avoid at all costs because they can come back to haunt you if this collision makes its way to a courtroom.

What happens in a bond hearing

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.

Courts hold bond hearings every day in South Carolina. Usually, a judge sets bond when an arrest is processed, but there are instances where he or she may deny a bond.

After an arrest in South Carolina, the law entitles you to a bond hearing within 48 hours.

How to talk to teens about drinking and driving

On behalf of Young & Young, Attorneys at Law posted in blog on Tuesday, September 26, 2017.

No one should get behind the wheel of a vehicle after a night of drinking. However, a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 1.6 percent of adults in South Carolina drove a car while intoxicated within the last 30 days of the initial report. It is frightening to think about how many teens in the state drove while drunk during that period.

There is a zero tolerance policy for teens when it comes to drinking and driving. While adults can technically have a blood alcohol content level lower than 0.08, teens cannot have anything. Therefore, it is paramount for parents to talk to their teenagers about the dangers. Many parents do not know where to start, so here are some pointers for the conversation.