The Civil Death Penalty…that results from a conviction.
Civil death is defined by Black's Law Dictionary succinctly as "the loss of rights." Historically, civil death arose from one who had been "outlawed" by a community. In today's world, this loss of one's civil rights can range from the loss of a driver's license to the loss of a right to own or possess a firearm. For instance, if a person is convicted of criminal domestic violence they are considered a "prohibited person" and possession of a firearm or ammunition under Federal and State law is serious business. Another scary scenario, a person convicted of possession of less than a gram of cocaine or more than an ounce of marijuana is considered a Felon and forever (generally) loses their firearm rights.
Depending on where you are in your life and what you do for a living, convictions for crimes that appear petty carry the potential for grave consequences down the road and make civiliter mortuus (civil death) a very real concern. Historically, folks were literally branded with hot irons as punishment for some offenses. Now, rather than suffer the physical pain of a conviction, unfortunate individuals must suffer the punishment of sometimes permanent public humiliation, loss of rights, and loss of future educational and business opportunities.
I regularly advice clients in this area and the avoidance of collateral consequences. Whether it be Reckless Driving or Distribution of Marijuana, I pay great attention to both the consequences of a conviction and how to hopefully avoid them altogether.
If you have been arrested for a DUI, drug charge, assault charge, or any other criminal offense in South Carolina please call my office to schedule a free interview. I also handle driver's license issues, parole cases, and other matters. If you have questions about a search warrant, arrest warrant, or any other issue involving your personal rights and liberty, please feel free to contact my office as well. At my office, you will receive a free interview in criminal cases. If retained, I will go about protecting your initial court appearance, if possible, and begin investigating the case. If you have questions about a criminal or DUI case or questions about this article, feel free to contact me at (843) 761-0610. If you would like to read more about South Carolina's DUI and criminal laws, copy/paste this link into your search heading http://www.vannoylawoffice.com/blog/
If you have questions regarding a DUI or criminal case in Berkeley, Charleston, or Dorchester County, please contact my office today at (843) 761-0610 or through the contact page on this website.
Brady Vannoy is a criminal defense lawyer in Berkeley County, South Carolina. He carries a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating. According to the rating system, "AV Preeminent(r) is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence." Brady is also listed in Super Lawyers(r). "Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations."
Brady regularly defends cases in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties. Brady is a member of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the South Carolina Association for Justice. He can be reached at (843) 761-0610, brady@vannoymurphy.com, or through the contact page on this website.