Author Archives: David R. Eshelman
An Overview of DUI Laws in Pennsylvania
Many critics have suggested in the past that Pennsylvania has some of the most lenient driving under the influence (DUI) laws in the nation. But why is this? One reason could be the lack of minimum jail time for some first offenses and the relatively small minimum amounts for some second and third offenses, as […]
What is House Arrest and When is it Applied?
If you are put under house arrest, it usually means you are confined to your home rather than having to go to a juvenile detention or prison facility. It is often cited as an affordable alternative to imprisonment, especially for people who are considered to be a low risk to society. People under house arrest […]
What Happens in Cases Involving Police Misconduct?
Police misconduct occurs when a law enforcement officer somehow violates the law while on the job. However, not every single violation of the law can be considered police misconduct. For example, a police officer speeding while in pursuit of a suspect is technically a violation of speed limit laws, but in this case, the infraction […]
How Do Felony Arrest Warrants Work?
When someone commits a crime, but was not arrested in the course of actually committing it, courts may issue arrest warrants giving police officers the necessary authority to charge the suspect with a crime and make the arrest. A felony arrest warrant is the specific type of warrant issued in a crime classified as a […]
The Various Types of Misdemeanors
Misdemeanors are “lesser” crimes, typically punishable by a fine, probation, community service, court supervision and/or up to 5 years in jail (or any combination of these penalties). Although misdemeanors may be classified into several degrees depending on their severity, they may also be grouped into several categories depending on the nature of the crime. The […]
Pennsylvania Man Receives Long Prison Sentence for Wire Fraud
A Pennsylvania man was recently sentenced to 14 ½ years in prison after being found guilty in helping to coordinate an international wire fraud scheme. The 36-year-old man, Sahil Patel, was found guilty of four charges, including conspiring to impersonate government officials and to commit wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay $1 million […]
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Dealing in School Zones
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently voted 3-2 to strike down mandatory minimum sentences for people found guilty of dealing drugs in a school zone. Some, including the Delaware County district attorney, have been extremely critical of the ruling, saying it will lead to eliminating almost all mandatory drug sentences in Pennsylvania — whether or not […]
Philadelphia Study Shows Repairing Vacant Houses Reduces Crime
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania recently looked at data from the Philadelphia police department and its Department of Licenses and Inspections to examine the correlation between crime and vacant, run-down housing. They found that the rates of drug and violent crimes decreased when property owners were compliant with city ordinances by […]
