After the court finds you guilty of a crime, you may feel as if you have lost the fight. However, Pennsylvania offers defendants several avenues to have the circumstances of their case and conviction reconsidered. In addition to direct appeals, the Post-Conviction Relief Act affords individuals the opportunity to have aspects of his or her
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FELONS, JURY DUTY, AND DISCRIMINATION
Jury duty is commonly regarded in American society as an arduous chore and an unwanted task. We tend to take the honor of jury for granted. Many Americans are ineligible for jury service due to past mistakes or associations. The repercussions of these restrictions are painfully apparent in the criminal justice system. Though some states
WHAT IS CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY?
The word conspiracy is generally used to describe theories about aliens and fake moon landings. Criminal conspiracy sounds more like an activity reserved for gangsters, dark rooms, and hushed tones. However, criminal conspiracy charges are among the most common criminal charges in the state of Pennsylvania. What is Criminal Conspiracy? The crime of conspiracy must
FULL VS. LIMITED TORT AUTO INSURANCE POLICIES
When deciding which car insurance policy to purchase, many people only consider the least expensive options. Car insurance companies use buzz words like “full coverage” to distract buyers from the substance of their policies. It is important to understand the difference between Full and Limited Tort options in order to know what kind of policy
DRIVING IN SLUSH
Slush could reasonably be called the least fun product of a winter storm. Snow has a certain whimsy and beauty about it. You can ski or snowboard on snow, you can make snowmen or start a snowball fight. Ice can be beautiful as well- it collects as icicles decorating each gutter and awning. You can
INCENTIVIZED INFORMANTS
Season two of the Accused podcast focuses on the murder investigation of Retha Welch. Welch, a religious recovering addict who used her free time to minister prison inmates, was found stabbed and beaten in her Newport, Kentucky apartment in April of 1987. Police soon focused in on William Virgil, a former inmate whom Welch had counseled, as
DUI TALK: DUI DON’TS
You are pulled over for a DUI. The officer approaches your window and the investigation begins- he or she will ask questions and request your consent for tests. Here are six things that you should avoid if you are ever pulled over under suspicion of driving under the influence: Do not admit to drinking or
EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY AND MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS
If you are involved in a collision that is not your fault, one of two things can happen- the other driver can accept blame or the other driver can claim that you are at fault. If the driver of the other vehicle contests fault, you may find yourself having to prove that your actions did
DISTRACTED DRIVING IS DANGEROUS DRIVING
You are a danger to yourself and others when you drive distracted. Every day in the United States, 9 people die and over 1,000 people are injured due to distracted driving. What is Distracted Driving? There are three types of distracted driving: Visual: when you take your eyes off of the road Manual: when you
5 WAYS TO AVOID SELF-INCRIMINATION
Do not consent to a search: If a police officer does not have a warrant, you do not and should not allow him or her to search your property. Police are permitted to lie in the course of an investigation- they may tell you that they will get a warrant, and it will be better for