We agree with Abraham Lincoln that government should be, "of the people, by the people, for the people..." And if the government makes the laws, then the laws should be readily understandable by the people. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

We are a criminal defense law firm and have been such for the last 30 years. During that time, we have fielded hundreds, if not thousands, of questions relating to the criminal and traffic laws of Virginia. Not surprisingly, the same questions surface time and time again. Moreover, some of these questions reflect a basic misunderstanding of the legal system. For example, "The police have told me that my charge carries up to 12 months in jail. If I am convicted, am I definitely going to jail?" or "I have an arraignment next week. Should I be prepared to go to trial?" The simple answer to both questions is "no" but that does not really add to your understanding of Virginia law. This website is designed to bridge that gap.

Our site was created for non-lawyers who desire to understand the criminal justice system in Virginia. The reader will find answers to frequently asked questions, links to many information resources, such as court dockets and various statutes, as well as detailed, common sense explanations of various criminal charges and law terms.