Tag Archives: criminal charges
Five Things You Need to Consider When Choosing a Criminal Defense Lawyer
There are two kinds of law — civil and criminal. Civil law deals with disputes between private citizens over money or property; these disagreements are usually resolved through lawsuits, mediation, money damages and court orders. Criminal law, on the other hand, involves the power of the state to impose incarceration, fines, and other restrictions on a […]
A Last Chance for Justice — The Innocence Project
We like to believe that only the guilty are punished and the innocent go free. Pennsylvania’s Innocence Project, part of the nationwide Innocence Project, knows otherwise. Brian Banks, just released by the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent, had been a high school football star on his way to play for USC when he was […]
The Aging of the Commonwealth and Elder Abuse Concerns
Pennsylvania’s population is aging. The House Aging and Adult Older Services Committee reported that there are 2.7 million people age 60 or older and that figure will exceed 3.6 million by 2030. Older Pennsylvanians age 60 or older comprise 21% of our Commonwealth’s population, but by 2030 they will be 25% of our population. By […]
PA Putting Out the Red Flag for Hit and Run Drivers
Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatizing experience, both for an accident victim and the driver. Many drivers panic and seek to flee the scene. The law expects drivers to fight this urge and requires them to show the victim or a police officer at the scene their driver’s license and insurance […]
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 […]
How Your Immigration Status Can Complicate Your Criminal Case
Many legal residents and undocumented immigrants do not understand the significant impact of their immigration status on their criminal case. Because certain criminal convictions can result in removal or exclusion from the U.S., criminal cases involving those with immigration issues must be handled differently than other types of cases. Some plea agreements that would be […]
Why a Private DUI Defense Attorney Can Make a Difference in Pennsylvania Cases
Many people charged with driving under the influence radically misjudge the need for a private DUI defense attorney. Anyone who watches crime dramas is familiar with the portion of the Miranda warning that advises of the right of indigent defendants to have an appointed attorney. It is important to understand that the right to an […]
Understanding Expungement in Pennsylvania
Mistakes happen. Consequences occur, penalties are paid, and painful incidents retreat into memory. However, criminal records do not. A criminal record eliminates and stalls opportunities like adoption, housing requests, educational and employment offers. In this electronic age, information out there stays out there. In Berks County, and elsewhere in Pennsylvania, we get requests from individuals […]
Evidence
Just the Facts — and What We Do with Them The ongoing story of former Pennsylvania State football assistant Jerry Sandusky is known around the country. Facing approximately 50 counts of child sex abuse, the grand jury findings of fact in the case give stark testimony why Mr. Sandusky is facing trial on June 5 […]
Social Media and Criminal Charges
By March of this year, Facebook had over 901 million active users worldwide. In the three months prior, an average of 300 million photographs were uploaded to Facebook each day. Twitter claims to have over 200 million users. MySpace, LinkedIn, and other social media sites mean connectivity is everywhere. Gossip, plans, thoughts, questionable statements — […]
