Trial By Judge or Trial By Jury – Things You Need to Consider
In the United States, every person has the right to a trial by jury when accused of a crime, but that doesn’t mean it is your only option. You can also choose a bench trial, or a trial by judge….
I’m Being Charged at the State and Federal Levels – What Should I Do?
In general, people are charged of a crime at either the state level or the federal level, but sometimes you can be charged at both state and federal levels. Often this happens in drug cases. For example, you may be…
License Suspensions in DUI Plea Deals
Last year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court handed down a decision that could permanently change DUI plea negotiations. Before, most plea deals for DUI charges considered license suspensions to be one of the more minor concerns to work out with the…
#TheDress Debate Highlights Problems With Eyewitness Testimony
Did you see white and gold or black and blue? Or were you one of those people who first saw one combination of colors, but watched as #TheDress seemed to change colors in front of your very eyes? The Internet…
Civil Forfeiture No Longer Federally Sanctioned
In a sweeping check on police powers, Attorney General Eric Holder prohibited local and state police from using federal law to seize cash, cars and other property without evidence that a crime occurred through a process called civil forfeiture. If…
Cell Phone Surveillance Devices Being Used By Pennsylvania State Police
You probably have heard about cell phone surveillance being used before in the context of terrorism or national security, but what you may not know is that the devices used to monitor potential criminals’ data is now being used more…
Pennsylvania DUI Law Changes
A couple of key changes to Pennsylvania DUI laws in late 2014 mean that drivers can no longer get multiple DUIs treated as first offenses because of timing, and that drivers convicted of a second DUI after refusing a chemical…
Why You Shouldn’t Agree to Warrantless Searches
When a police officer pulls us over on the road, or knocks on the door of our home, it’s natural to feel anxious even when we’ve done nothing wrong. We’re conditioned to comply with whatever the officer asks for —…
Civil Forfeiture – Your Money Is Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Police can take your cash, cars, and other assets through civil forfeiture even if you are not charged with any crime. A recent article in the Washington Post brought national attention to the practice of civil forfeiture. Civil forfeiture is…
Warrantless GPS Surveillance Allowed by U.S. Third Circuit Court
A new ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit erodes Fourth Amendment protections for people accused of crimes by upholding the use of warrantless GPS tracking by a police department. The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from…
