Blog
- Changes To Stop Wrong Eyewitness Identifications
Jul 23, 2018
The reliability of eyewitness testimony has been a subject of intense scientific scrutiny for decades. While juries and the general public often perceive eyewitness accounts as “gold-standard” evidence, decades of cognitive science and the sobering reality of DNA exonerations have proven otherwise. The human memory is not a recording device; it is a reconstructive process that can be easily influenced by stress, environmental conditions, and suggestive investigative practices. Law enforcement in half of the states in...Read More - A Criminal Study Finds Errors In Some Convictions
Jul 23, 2018
One of the first studies to determine the rate of wrongful, non-murder convictions was recently conducted in Pennsylvania. The study found a slightly higher rate of mistaken convictions than in murder or capital crime cases. The Overlooked Reality of Wrongful Convictions in Non-Violent Crimes The lead researcher, a criminologist from a Pennsylvania university, created the study to focus on crimes other than homicide and rape, which he believed to be covered in other research. Under...Read More - Pennsylvania Men Arrested On Drug Charges At Traffic Stop
Jul 23, 2018
Pennsylvania authorities cited two men for drug charges on April 2 following a traffic stop in Perry Township. Local police said they seized various items, including marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia and an as-yet unidentified white powdery substance. The alleged offenders were a 35-year-old man and a 21-year-old man. Traffic Stops Can Lead to Serious Drug Charges in Pennsylvania The driver was accused of possession of marijuana, a minor misdemeanor, while the passenger was cited for...Read More - Radio Personality Avoids Prison Time At Sentencing Hearing
Jul 23, 2018
The unfolding legal troubles of public figures often serve as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding drug offenses. When comedian Artie Lange faced legal jeopardy in 2017, resulting in a plea and subsequent sentencing in 2018 for possession of heroin, the media coverage highlighted not only the personal struggles of the individual but also the intricate mechanisms of the criminal justice system. For many, his case demonstrated the profound impact that legal counsel, plea...Read More - Associates Becoming Criminal Defendants in Fatal Overdoses
Jul 23, 2018
In Pennsylvania and across the United States, the legal response to the opioid epidemic has taken an increasingly aggressive turn. While public health initiatives aim to provide treatment and harm reduction, the judicial system has simultaneously ramped up the use of “drug-induced homicide” statutes to hold individuals criminally accountable for fatal overdoses. In Pennsylvania, this offense is codified as “Drug Delivery Resulting in Death” (DDRD) under 18 Pa. C.S. § 2506. The rise in these...Read More - Pennsylvania man arrested after police raid
Jul 23, 2018
On April 17, a 29-year-old Pennsylvania man was taken into custody after police raided his Centre Township home and allegedly found drugs, firearms and an improvised explosive device, or IED. The raid took place at approximately 7:30 a.m. According to a press release issued by authorities, officers from the Pennsylvania State Police and the Berks County Probation Office executed an arrest warrant at the defendant’s home on the 800 block of River Road in Mohrsville...Read More - Intoxicated Man Struggles With Police After Urinating On Truck
Jul 23, 2018
A long struggle resulted when Pennsylvania State Police troopers encountered a man urinating on a running truck next to East Queen Street in Chambersburg. Court documents detailed the encounter that began when troopers questioned the 24-year-old that they described as stumbling with bloodshot eyes. Understanding the Legal Consequences of a DUI Arrest At first, the suspect walked away from the troopers before eventually stopping for them. He then put up a fight when they tried...Read More - 4 Facts About Breath Tests to Know Today
Jul 23, 2018
Breath tests are one way that the authorities determine if a driver or pedestrian is under the influence of alcohol. They are simple tests that require only a few deep breaths and for you to blow into the testing instrument. A breath test isn’t always accurate, but, for the most part, they are and can be used in court. Given this, the results of such tests can play a significant part in DUI cases. Also, refusing...Read More - Can you share or sell prescription drugs?
Jul 23, 2018
In your second year of college, you have your wisdom teeth removed. The doctor prescribes you some serious painkillers to take at home while you recover. Thankfully, you are young and healthy. You recover ahead of schedule, and the pain subsides long before you use up all of the medication. You know you could take it until it is gone anyway, but you have read about people getting addicted to painkillers. You don’t want to...Read More