The Virginia Law Firm of Furlong and Drewniak, PLLC

A top graduate from Virginia’s Fairfax County Police Academy, Thad Furlong served honorably on police forces in Virginia and California before earning his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. Today, Thad Furlong defends those charged with criminal offenses as a partner in the Virginia firm of Furlong & Drewniak, PLLC.

The partners at Furlong and Drewniak, Thaddeus Furlong and Sandra Drewniak, both have previous experience “on the other side of the table.” This gives them the advantage of knowing the strategies and tactics prosecutors and law enforcement employ when developing their cases. Perhaps more importantly, they understand the limitations in some of law enforcement’s tools and can recognize when an arrest is based on flawed evidence.

The firm prides itself on client service. Its phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year. New clients can count on an extensive free consultation at the outset of their relationship with the firm, with regular consultations as the case progresses. The attorneys go to great lengths to accommodate clients’ often busy schedules, and make certain to break down the sometimes complex legal issues involved in their cases into easily understood plain English or Spanish.

About the Fairfax Bar Association’s Fairfax Law Foundation

Previously a law enforcement officer in Los Angeles and Fairfax, Virginia, Thad Furlong presently operates as a criminal defense attorney in Virginia. Beyond his responsibilities as an attorney, Thaddeus Furlong serves as an instructor for the academy at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. An engaged member of his profession, Thad Furlong maintains membership in the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Fairfax Bar Association.

As the philanthropic arm of the Fairfax Bar Association (FBA), the Fairfax Law Foundation was established in 1982 to help members of the FBA give back to the community. The foundation offers programs that help resolve preliminary disputes and motions, make a difference in the lives of young adults in the community, and provide legal services to those in need through the organization’s Pro Bono Law Center.

As an organization of volunteer legal professionals, the FBA boasts more than 2,000 members who practice law in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The FBA is dedicated to promoting diversity and competence within the legal profession, and helping the general public gain a better understanding of the country’s judicial system.

American Association of University Professors to Host 2014 Spring Meet

With more than 20 years of experience in the legal profession, Thad Furlong currently serves as an attorney and partner at Furlong & Drewniak, PLLC. In addition to his duties as a criminal defense attorney, Thad Furlong serves as an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College. As a member of the educational community, Thaddeus Furlong maintains affiliation with the American Association of University Professors.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is preparing to host its 2014 Spring Regional Meeting, which will be held April 12, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio, at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel. Held in conjunction with the AAUP Ohio chapter’s annual meeting, the regional meeting will feature a lecture by Professor Chad Hanson, chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Work at Wyoming’s Casper College. Professor Hanson will address attendees during a discussion entitled “Talking Higher Education: Metaphors That We Live By.”

Established in 1915, the AAUP is dedicated to promoting academic freedom, defining the standards and values of college education, and ensuring that higher education positively impacts students and society. For nearly a decade, the organization has helped to shape the procedures and standards that govern academic excellence and freedom in our nation’s postsecondary learning institutions.

The FBI National Academy Strives to Enhance Homeland Security

Attorney Thaddeus Furlong practices law as a partner in Furlong and Drewniak, PLLC. In addition to vigorously defending criminal cases, Thad Furlong teaches law at the collegiate level. Thad Furlong also serves as an instructor at the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Leaders of state and local law enforcement agencies, federal agents, and military police participate in the academy, which is an invitation-only program. Every quarter, some 250 individuals study forensic procedures, fitness, and leadership skills, among other subjects.

The academy also combats terrorism through its Intelligence Training program, initiated in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. From its beginning as the College of Analytical Studies, the program has worked to strengthen the FBI’s ability to analyze and share information with other intelligence professionals on possible threats. Furthermore, the program ensures that intelligence personnel remain current on new developments in counterterrorism. It also aids other intelligence agencies in preparing their agents with the proper tradecraft.

At Work for Justice – The Virginia Trial Lawyers Association

Formerly in law enforcement and now an established trial lawyer, Thaddeus Furlong works to promote justice through the practice of Furlong and Drewniak, PLLC. Thad Furlong focuses on legal issues related to police procedures. To keep current, Thad Furlong maintains memberships in several professional organizations, including the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA).

An important division of the VTLA is the Virginia Trial Lawyers Foundation, whose goals include educating the public on the workings of the justice system and offering scholarships to law schools.

The foundation also engages in advocacy projects; its members have offered free legal services to victims of the September 11 terror attacks. The Virginia State Bar honored the foundation’s efforts with an award of merit.

The foundation also participates in the Virginia Fair Trial Project, which strives to improve the standards of legal services for persons with low incomes. Court-appointed lawyers benefit from this program by receiving increased fees and fee vouchers.

Additionally, the foundation provides free bicycle helmets and instructions on safe riding for the children of disadvantaged families.

Thaddeus Furlong: Blood Alcohol Content and Virginia DUI Penalties

As a partner with Furlong & Drewniak, PLLC, Thad Furlong offers experienced counsel in diverse Virginia criminal defense matters spanning juvenile crime, assault & battery, identity theft, and driving under the influence (DUI).

Drivers under suspicion of DUI face a strict set of laws that stem from the Implied Consent Law. All people agree to abide by this law when receiving their driver’s license. As the name suggests, the law implies consent to a law enforcement-administered chemical test in any situation where the officer believes the driver may be operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

DUI charges are not limited to cases in which driving ability suffers impairment from alcohol use. Even in cases where driving was normal and not erratic, 0.08 or higher blood alcohol content (BAC) results in an automatic “per se” DUI violation in Virginia. For a 180 pound male, a .08 BAC level typically results from 3-4 drinks per hour (a drink is defined as an eight ounce glass of five-percent beer, three ounces of wine, or one ounce of 80-proof spirits). In the case of a woman of the same weight, three drinks will generally be enough to reach a .08 BAC. Any registered BAC of .15 or higher carries with it significantly higher fines and mandatory jail sentences.

Sentencing Punishments for DUI Offenses in Virginia, by Thad Furlong

The Commonwealth of Virginia has imposed strict sentencing punishments for individuals found guilty of driving under the influence. These are harsh compared to other states and are made stricter every year. A person can be found guilty of DWI (driving While Intoxicated) or DUI (Driving Under the Influence) if the officer has probable cause to believe their driving is impaired by alcohol or another drug. The same law covers both DWI and DUI. Virginia courts often refer to both types as “DUI.”

First time offenders can expect a minimum $250 fine and to have their driver’s license suspended for one year. A Restricted License with an Interlock ignition device allowing driving to and from work may be requested. Drivers with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15 or greater face a mandatory five-day jail sentence. For a BAC greater than 0.20, drivers face a 10-day sentence. Different counties may add on higher punishments or additional DUI penalties, like having to attend a Victim Impact Panel composed of people injured by Virginia drunk drivers. All convicted Virginia DUI/DWI drivers also must complete ASAP. an alcohol safety program.

For second offenses, the state could convict an individual for one month to one year with a mandatory fine of $500 or more and a license suspension of up to three years. Repeat convictions within a five to 10 year span carry mandatory sentencing with additional jail time for a higher BAC. So Virginia has a 10 year look-back period for prior DUI offenses.

If an individual receives a third DUI within 10 years, the offense is classified as a class six felony. Along with a sentence of at least 90 days in jail, the offense carries a minimum $1000 fine and loss of license.

A fourth DUI offense results in a mandatory sentence of one year in jail.

About the author: Thad (Thaddeus) Furlong is an attorney based in Stafford, Virginia, whose area of practice includes handling criminal DUI and DWI offenses, drug offenses, traffic violations, and other crimes. A former law enforcement officer, Mr. Furlong understands the impact laws can have on the accused and strives to offer clear and effective representation.

Thad Furlong: An Introduction to Criminal Law

Thad Furlong is an award-winning lawyer specializing in criminal defense. Currently a partner at Furlong & Drewniak PLLC, Mr. Furlong utilizes his experience as a former member of law enforcement to provide the most comprehensive criminal defense. 

Criminal law refers to an individual’s prosecution for a crime by the government, the consequences of which may involve imprisonment, payment of a fine, or both. A criminal defense lawyer is a legal professional who is selected or appointed to defend an individual who has been accused of a crime and is facing trial. Criminal defense lawyers specialize in securing client acquittal through case research, understanding of current laws, and familiarity with legal precedents.

There are many specific areas of specialization for criminal defense lawyers, such as the defense of high-profile or celebrity clientele. Many criminal defense lawyers also perform pro bono work in their communities to assist those who cannot afford representation. 

For more information, contact a local criminal defense attorney.

Thad Furlong: Entrapment Defense Asserts that Government Coerced Crime

A former law enforcement officer, Thad Furlong now serves as a partner at the Virginia law firm Furlong & Drewniak PLLC. He provides expert, insightful legal counsel for people accused of crimes. Contact Thaddeus Furlong at 703-988-1010.

Many criminal defendants believe they have been pressured by government agents to commit a crime via fraud, intimidation, harassment, or blandishments. Criminal lawyers often invoke an entrapment defense based on evidence that their clients carried out the offense under direction from police officers or other law enforcement personnel. While the law allows police officers to tell some lies in the course of investigation, statutes forbid extreme or repeated requests in the guise of friendship, need, or admiration to convince a suspect to commit a crime.

An entrapment defense requires lawyers to present evidence that meets a subjective or an objective standard. The case meets the objective standard if the officer’s actions would be likely to compel most people, even the most law-abiding ones, to execute a crime. The subjective standard, on the other hand, necessitates a verdict by jurors that indicates that the entrapment preyed on the offender’s predisposition to commit the offense; the entrapment negates the defendant’s responsibility for his or her actions.

The FBI National Academy, by Thad Furlong

With a mission to support, promote, and enhance the development of law enforcement professionals, the FBI National Academy serves to improve policing and police departments, sheriff’s departments, military police, and federal agencies. Through invitations to select groups of law enforcement organizations, FBI National Academy participants come from throughout the United States and its territories as well as from over 150 countries around the world.

The FBI National Academy consists of two parts: 10 hours of classroom work four times a year and participation in the “Yellow Brick Road”—a challenging fitness course. In the classroom setting, students take graduate level courses on a range of subjects including law, behavioral and forensic sciences, leadership, and communication. The fitness test, which is optional, is made up of a 6.1 mile trail run interspersed with obstacles designed to challenge students both physically and mentally. Following completion of the course, graduates are awarded a yellow brick for their achievement and commitment to excellence.

About the author: Thad (Thaddeus) Furlong is a former law enforcement officer and current attorney based in Stafford, Virginia. Along with practicing in the legal professional, Mr. Furlong is an instructor at the FBI Academy, where he feaches law enforcement officers to prepare for trial and testify successfully in court.