Sentencing Alternatives and Conditional Dispositions in Pennsylvania Criminal Cases
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, alternative sentences and conditional dispositions (where charges are dropped after fulfilling certain requirements) through the State Intermediate Punishment (SIP) Program, pretrial diversion programs, and other sentencing option programs help reduce recidivism and save…
What Contributes to a Mistrial? … and What Does It Mean for My Case?
While most of us have heard the term “mistrial,” few people really understand what a mistrial means. A mistrial occurs when some error in the trial process makes justice impossible if the proceedings continue. Sometimes this means that the jury…
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….
Site Design & SEO Information
I hear from clients, other attorneys in town, and lawyers looking to redesign their own website, “Great website!” And when it’s another lawyer, the next question is usually, “Who designed it?” or “Who’s handling your content and optimization?” To help…
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…
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’s Revenge Porn Law
Pennsylvania is one of 13 states that have criminalized revenge porn so far, becoming the fourth state to lead in this continuing trend of legislation. “Revenge porn” is when a partner, or more commonly, ex-partner, publishes intimate and/or sexually explicit…
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 —…
Open Container Law: Tailgating & Public Intoxication Charges in Pittsburgh, PA
There is nothing more fun this time of year than tailgating, whether it’s at Heinz Field, Consol Energy Center, or one of our local Pittsburgh college campuses. It’s fun to spend some time with your friends, enjoying good food and…
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…
