Tag Archives: crime
How to Choose a Criminal Defense Attorney
Are you facing criminal charges? One of the first steps you should take when being charged is to seek a criminal defense attorney who can advocate for you in court. If you’ve never been charged with a crime and have never worked with an attorney, it can be difficult to know where to begin in […]
When Are Police Allowed to Search Your Vehicle?
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures. However, it does not mean you are fully protected from a search if an officer pulls you over in your vehicle. There are some circumstances in which officers can search your vehicle without a warrant, including when the following are present: […]
Do Police Need Warrants to Extract Evidence from Social Media Profiles?
People are putting information about themselves and their lives on the internet more than ever, thanks to the explosion of social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. If you are not careful with your privacy settings, you might find that content you thought you were just sharing with friends and family is actually available […]
Private Attorneys vs. Public Defenders: How Do They Stack Up?
When you are accused of a crime, you have the right to an attorney. As the arresting officer tells you while reading your Miranda rights, if you are unable to afford a private defense attorney of your own, you will be provided with an attorney known as a public defender. In either case, the job […]
New Anti-Hazing Law Introduced After Death of Penn State Fraternity Member
The Pennsylvania state legislature recently passed an anti-hazing law that was proposed after the death of a Penn State student who had been drinking at a fraternity house in early 2017. Gov. Tom Wolf signed the bill into law shortly after the legislature passed it. The bill allows prosecutors to seek stricter criminal penalties and […]
Pennsylvania to End Mandatory License Suspensions for Some Crimes
The Pennsylvania State Legislature recently passed House Bill 163, which will eliminate mandatory driver’s license suspensions in cases involving drug crimes that were not related to driving. The state had been one of only about a dozen left that would implement mandatory driver’s license suspensions in cases that had nothing to do with operating a […]
Pennsylvania Senate Passes Bill to Change Definition of Crime Victim
The most recent session of the Pennsylvania state legislature featured some contentious debates over various pieces of legislation and issues. Perhaps the most important development of the session was the passage of Senate Bill 897. The new law expands the definition of a victim of a crime to include nonprofit organizations, businesses and other entities. […]
Why You Need a Lawyer When Facing Criminal Charges
In almost any circumstance in which you have been charged with a crime, it is in your best interest to retain an attorney. This is especially true if you could face harsh penalties like prison or jail time or significant fines. It is extremely difficult for the average person to competently handle his or her […]
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 […]
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 […]
