Author Archives: David R. Eshelman
What Happens If You Refuse to Perform a Field Sobriety Test?
When police officers stop drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, they are likely to ask the driver to perform at least one field sobriety test (FST). You have the right to refuse these tests. Field sobriety tests Most police officers are trained to administer several types of FSTs. […]
Supplying Alcohol to Minors is Illegal in Pennsylvania
The legal drinking age in the United States is 21, and it is illegal in all states to sell alcohol to anyone who is underage. There are also prohibitions on providing underage people with alcohol, even if there is no exchange of money. The following is some important information to know about supplying alcohol to […]
What Happens if Police Officers Do Not Read You Your Rights?
Many people have a misconception that if they are arrested, but are not read their rights, they are able to escape any penalties that would arise from their alleged crimes. However, this is not often the case. If police fail to read you the Miranda rights, all that happens is the prosecutor would be unable […]
Attorney General Continues to Push for Tougher Sentences for Drug Crimes
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been persistent in his push for federal and state officials to get tougher on drug crimes by pushing for maximum sentences. Most recently, he personally asked congressional leaders to allow him to prosecute providers of medical marijuana. Federal protections for medical marijuana distributors have been in place since 2014. […]
Tougher Criminal Sentences Could Mean Higher Costs in Pennsylvania
A significant state budget deficit in Pennsylvania has led lawmakers to consider $232 million in cuts to policing, corrections, courts and treatment programs in the state. To remedy this, the legislature is also considering a bill that would call for longer prison sentences for some crimes. If passed, the measure could lead to an $85 […]
Overdose Deaths in Pennsylvania Rose by 37 Percent in 2016
According to a recent announcement by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania rose by a stunning 37 percent in 2016. On average, 13 people died per day of a drug overdose in the state, leading to a record-high figure for drug deaths in the state in a single year. There […]
What You Need to Know About Parole
Parole is incarcerated individuals’ early release before serving the entirety of their sentence. However, parolees are not “free” civilians upon their release — they are still under supervision for the duration of their sentence and will need to comply with certain conditions of their release. Not all prisoners are entitled to parole. The following are […]
