Category Archives: Drug Charges
A Heroin and Prescription Drug Epidemic in Pennsylvania
Three steps you can take to protect your family There was a recent article about heroin addiction in The Mercury that might scare any parent of an adolescent or young adult. Law enforcement officers are reporting an increase in the use and abuse of heroin and related prescription drugs across all social classes in Reading […]
What is the STOP Program?
When a state trooper and a middle school principal are stopped in Berks County for driving under the influence (DUI), you know that drinking and driving is a serious problem. It is estimated that in the United States, 50 percent of first time DUI offenders and 80 percent of second and subsequent DUI offenders will […]
How Can the Berks County Drug Court Help You?
According to recent figures, the prison population in Pennsylvania has increased by 625% over the last 32 years. In the last eight years, Berks County has been trying to stem the increase in incarceration rates by using specialized treatment courts to get people the help they need rather than throwing them in jail. Berks County […]
Law Enforcement Use of Warrantless GPS Tracking in Pennsylvania Drug Cases
Technological innovations like GPS tracking devices can simplify our lives, but they also have a darker side that can threaten our personal liberty and privacy. Law enforcement agencies are increasingly utilizing GPS tracking tools to monitor movements of citizens often without providing probable cause to a judge or obtaining a warrant. The U.S. Supreme Court […]
A Big Difference: Drug Charges in Pennsylvania
If it seems like arrest on criminal charges is more common than it used to be — it is. A 2011 study found roughly 30 percent, almost one-third of Americans, are arrested on charges by age 23 — not including minor traffic violations. The figure marks a big difference from a similar 1965 study that […]
Rx for Disaster
You have unused medications on the shelf. A friend offers a painkiller because he or she had extra. You went to a party and were given some pills that made you feel pretty good. You are not causing trouble — so there is no trouble, right? Well, wrong. Using prescription drugs without a valid prescription […]
Pot, Pills, and Snow White
Drug abuse is a top health and legal issue in the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates the economic cost of drug abuse in our country is $215 billion. A rapidly expanding drug issue is prescription drug abuse. Prescription drug abuse refers to use by individuals of medication not prescribed to them, or […]
Penalties for Pennsylvania Drug Charges
High demand and distribution of illicit drugs continues to be a serious issue for Pennsylvanians. According to the PA Attorney General, illegal drugs are the number one threat to public safety in Pennsylvania. While cocaine, heroin, and marijuana pose serious threats, manufactured drugs like methamphetamine and club drugs are also readily available in our state. […]
