As a criminal defense attorney working in mostly rural Central Pennsylvania, I am constantly face-to-face with the heroin epidemic that is affecting both cities and small communities around the country. Recently, I was speaking to a Pennsylvania State Police officer about a case in which my client had been charged with the possession of heroin
Category: Criminal Law
Mythbusting #2- You Do Not Have To Stop For Police “Just To Talk”
Do I have to stop and talk to police when they ask me to? Yes and no (but often the answer is no) To answer this question, one must be familiar with some basic legal concepts related to the law of “seizure,” a concept derived directly from the text of the Fourth Amendment to the
Police Are Solving Crimes Using Status Updates
Teens and young adults today document every aspect of their lives in selfies and social media posts. Tweets and Facebook statuses update you on where your friends are and how they’re feeling, or how they’re reacting to the events around them, and Instagram shows you your friends at their best-or worst-depending on their mood. Our
Furnishing Alcohol To Minors
Everyone knows that, in the United States, the legal drinking age is 21. Given that reality, purchasing, drinking or even having alcohol on your person as a minor can land you in serious trouble. But even when you reach age 21 and decide to celebrate the occasion with your friends, you need to pay close
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT “ARD”
If you know somebody who has been charged with a crime in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, particularly crimes such as DUI or minor offenses related to drug possession, you have probably heard of “ARD.” If you have been charged with a criminal offense, particularly a first-offense DUI or minor drug crime, ARD may be the
WHAT EXACTLY IS A PRELIMINARY HEARING?
If you have been charged with a crime in Pennsylvania the first major step in the process is called a preliminary hearing. All cases (except for summary offenses)-whether a person is charged with first degree murder or shoplifting-commence with what you will often hear attorneys refer to as a “prelim.” But what is it? How
THE CHALLENGES FACING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
Penn State is a great place for international students who want to learn more about living and working in America and take advantage of the school’s superior professors, curriculum and other benefits. These students come from other countries for a semester or to complete their full four years at Penn State, and they experience everything
OVERVIEW OF THE CRIMINAL PROCESS IN PENNSYLVANIA
The chart below is meant to give you an overview of the way a criminal prosecution commences and move through the court system here in Pennsylvania. While each and every case is unique and there may be some difference from county to county, this overview gives a good, general outline of the way a case
Complicating Domestic Violence
Human relationships are messy, complicated and full of emotion, especially at the college level. Young adults are meeting new people and exploring their limits and feelings, all while trying to squeeze in friendships and love relationships in between juggling schoolwork, family obligations and other responsibilities. The potential is great for fights to escalate as college
Sexual Assault Charges
Sexual assault and abuse has been all over the news recently, and many victims have publically leveled accusations, not only at their alleged abusers, but at their colleges and universities for dropping the ball in investigations and follow-through for reported incidents. Notably, the Ray Rice scandal, “Carry That Weight” protests and other student-led movements have