Tag Archives: criminal defense lawyer
Sentencing Reform Advocates Say Pennsylvania is Paying Too Much for a Failing System
Van Jones, a political analyst with CNN, recently echoed the voices of many probation and parole reform activists in Pennsylvania when he said the system “is actually making it harder for people to get on their feet and get on with their lives.” There have been many critics who have long said the state’s probation […]
Pennsylvania Law Has Five Times More Criminal Offenses Today than in the 1970s
A recent report from the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania opened the state up to some criticism of its criminal justice system. According to the report, the state’s criminal code had 282 offenses in 1972, but that number rose to 636 by 2010 and more than 1,500 in 2019, meaning there are now five […]
What Defenses Exist in Cases of Wire Fraud?
Wire fraud is a criminal offense that occurs when a person intentionally uses a communications device (such as the internet or a telephone) as a means of defrauding another person of their property or anything of value. In certain circumstances, wire fraud can result in significant fines and prison time. The defenses a person charged […]
Are Police Allowed to Question Children About a Crime?
If a police officer approached your child to ask them a question about a crime, you might be wondering whether or not that method of questioning is actually legal. The answer is yes—police are allowed to approach children to ask them questions about their potential involvement in a crime or if they have any knowledge […]
Common Examples of Field Sobriety Tests
Law enforcement officers often use field sobriety tests when they have pulled people over on suspicion of DUI to gauge whether or not the suspect is under the influence of alcohol. Here are a few common examples of these field sobriety tests and how they’re conducted. Horizontal gaze nystagmus This test involves the officer asking […]
What is the Crime of ‘Disturbing the Peace?’
Disturbing the peace is a crime also known as “disorderly conduct” or “breach of the peace.” It involves a person acting in such a way that disrupts the public or undoes a community’s tranquility. This encompasses a wide range of specific crimes, and law enforcement officers have considerable latitude to classify crimes as “disturbing the […]
Pennsylvania Official Claims Civil Complaints Were Misclassified for Years
According to a Pennsylvania state official, a judge in the state frequently misclassified civil complaints about unpaid bills as thefts. This occurred over the course of years, resulting in hundreds of people allegedly having criminal records they did not earn. The judge in question is former District Judge Brenda Williams Nichols, who allegedly misclassified these […]
What Happens if a Person Violates Parole?
A prisoner released on parole must comply with certain conditions geared toward his or her complete rehabilitation. This includes regular meetings with a parole officer, refraining from interacting with criminals and gangs, maintaining steady employment, abiding by travel restrictions and curfews and other similar conditions. A violation of parole conditions can result in the parolee […]
Pennsylvania Governor Celebrates Anniversary of Clean Slate Law
Earlier this summer, Governor Tom Wolf celebrated the one-year anniversary of Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Law. With the occasion, the automatic sealing of some criminal records written into the legislation went into effect. Pennsylvania becomes the very first state to automatically seal certain eligible criminal records so that they do not affect a person’s chance for […]
Debate Continues Over Proper Usage of License Plate Readers in Pennsylvania
Local police departments across Pennsylvania use a special type of camera that automatically reads license plates. They have been a well-received tool in the world of law enforcement, but some elected officials believe additional regulation is necessary to ensure the data captured by these tools is not compromised. There are currently no state regulations for […]
