Police lineup reform in North Carolina
North Carolina was one of the first states to respond to the introduction of DNA evidence and the miscarriages of justice it uncovered by changing the way police departments in the state perform eyewitness lineups. DNA evidence has been used to free hundreds of wrongly convicted individuals, and scrutiny of court transcripts reveals that the juries in these cases were often swayed by eyewitnesses who made mistakes.
The Eyewitness Identification Reform Act, which was signed into law in 2007, requires lineups in North Carolina to be conducted by independent administrators who do not know the identification of the suspect and are not involved in the ongoing investigation. Photo arrays also require an independent administrator whenever possible, but alternatives such as a computer program may sometimes be used. The law also requires witnesses to be told that a suspect may not even be present and the investigation will continue regardless of the outcome.
Experienced prosecutors prepare their witnesses carefully, which may be why researchers have found that juries often give eyewitness identifications an undue amount of weight. The Eyewitness Identification Reform Act addresses this issue by requiring a video record to be made of lineups whenever possible. When a video recording is not possible, police must provide a detailed explanation and either make an audio recording or take detailed notes.
Video and audio recordings taken in accordance with the Eyewitness Identification Reform Act may be scrutinized by experienced criminal defense attorneys, and this could be especially true if the suspect and witness are of different races. When questionable eyewitness identification is not supported by compelling evidence, attorneys could seek to have criminal charges dismissed. Attorneys may also bring up the unreliability of eyewitness identifications during plea negotiations.
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Mr. Plumides is a true advocate. I would highly recommend him, if you are in need. He represented me when I was falsely accused of domestic violence by my newlywed (now ex-)wife. I felt like everyone was against me, without hope, and kicked out of my own home. That is until I found Mr. Plumides, after reading many reviews. He had great reviews and now I know why. He was able to speak with me on my first call to his office. He gathered the facts, explained what to expect and immediately provided guidance as to how to proceed. After meeting in person, I was sure I had found the right attorney. He was extremely knowledgeable of NC law off the top of his head. If I called with an immediate question, he took my call immediately or returned it within a couple hours. I didn't feel like I was going it alone anymore. His staff was highly competent and professional. However, Greg would appear in court himself every step of the way and I knew the matter was being handled personally. As a result of his efforts, my charges were dismissed and subsequently expunged from my record. Did I mention that the flat fee I paid was extremely reasonable? Thank you Mr. Plumides, you are a true credit to your profession.
~ Matt
I've used Mr. Plumides for many cases over the years from custody to criminal and I want you to know he's a very special type of attorney. He's the type that literally has fallen in love with his work, the type to call you on a Sunday morning to discuss your case when you're worried and the type to protect you like your his own blood. I'll never use anyone else in the area and I strongly advise you at the very least to sit down with him if you're on the fence with representation and you'll see exactly what I'm referring to.
~ Michael Neighbors
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~ Kim Katopodis
Greg Plumides was a true advocate for me when I was falsely accused. If you need a knowledgeable, accessible, and hard working attorney on your side, look no further. Did I mention the very reasonable cost? Thank you, Mr. Plumides. (Full review to come on Avvo) Richard Johnson made my separation and divorce as painless as possible. Thank you, Mr. Johnson.
~ Matt Namin
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~ Garrett Reed
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~ Michael Young
Greg Plumides represented me in my DWI case. I was completely blown away at how patient he was regarding the strategy we took. Greg always knew what to do and when to do it. When it came time for court, he was properly prepared and we won our case when everybody was telling me there was no way I was going to win. I would recommend Greg and Plumides Law Office to anyone.
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~ Yvonne Young
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~ Amanda Young
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~ Andre Chappelle
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~ Cam Coffing
I've used Mr. Plumides for many cases over the years from custody to criminal and I want you to know he's a very special type of attorney. He’s the type that literally has fallen in love with his work, the type to call you on a Sunday morning to discuss your case when you're worried and the type to protect you like you’re his own blood. I'll never use anyone else in the area and I strongly advise you at the very least to sit down with him if you're on the fence with representation and you'll see exactly what I'm referring too.
~ Michael Neighbors
Gregory Plumides was very professional, knowledgeable and efficient! Very experienced Attorney! He helped me to settle all my Divorce matters. I highly recommend his services.
~ Wilson
Greg Plumides represented me in my DWI case. I was completely blown away at how patient he was regarding the strategy we took. Greg always knew what to do and when to do it. When it came time for court, he was properly prepared and we won our case when everybody was telling me there was no way I was going to win. I would recommend Greg Plumides to anyone.
~ Stewart
Greg was very good to me through a traumatic year of waiting for court personnel, for doing nothing more than a fender bender in a grocery parking lot. Then being accused of a DUI two hours later by aggressive law enforcement in my own home. My only mistake was allowing my cell phone to interfere with a quick response, to a minor bump. Greg was a great lawyer and so well-versed in his field. He "tells it like it is". I would definitely put my trust in him again!
~ Lin
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~ Susan
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~ Clinton
After being involved in an auto accident, I contacted Greg Plumides. Choosing him to represent me turned out to be a great decision on my part! He and his paralegal, Kristin, kept me updated and informed as they searched out every avenue to be considered in the case. I ended up with much more of a settlement from the other party then I ever expected. Greg and Kristin were caring and honest, and truly looked out for my best interest. I would highly recommend Greg Plumides law offices to anyone.
~ Annie
Mr. Plumides took my case and made me see it different which has made me different. In court and out he is caring, professional, and treated me with the utmost respect. I was facing more than I thought I could handle and somehow, he reduced that by his knowledge and wisdom and not giving up by keeping in touch with me and visiting me. He is honest and caring and always ON TIME!!! Thank you again Mr. Plumides. I would recommend you to anyone searching for someone to take their case.
~ Clinton