House Arrest for Second DUI Charge
Our client found herself charged with her second DUI, which is a first-degree misdemeanor in Pennsylvania. If convicted, she faced a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 days in jail. Our client was worried because she lived in Ohio and would…
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…
What is the Broken Window Theory and How do Pennsylvania Police Abuse It?
Police abuse is a hot topic that is constantly being debated in the news. In recent weeks, due to the Staten Island chokehold death and the Ferguson shooting, police abuse has been on our radars even more. Many people have…
Trials & Expert Testimony
Thanks to the many crime-solving television shows, most of us are familiar with the use of expert testimony in trials. Expert witnesses have specific knowledge, training, and/or experience to help the court understand particularly technical or complex elements of cases….
Can Social Media Comments Be Used as Criminal Evidence?
Almost everyone in the U.S. uses social media to some extent. In fact, 91 percent of adults use social media on a regular basis to communicate with others or for entertainment. For that reason, social media is quickly becoming a…
