Does TV Make Us Perceive More Crime?

It seems like every season there is a new crime-solving show on television. With so much fictionalized violence on TV and even more crime reported in the news, it is not difficult to imagine that the depiction of violence may…

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…

Mandatory Minimums Not Allowed for Certain Charges

As of August 20th, certain crimes where a gun is present, including drug convictions and robberies, will no longer automatically trigger mandatory minimum laws. The Pennsylvania Superior Court has ruled that mandatory minimums for drug convictions involving a firearm are…

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….

Yes, Le’Veon Bell – You Can Get a DUI While High on Marijuana

By now you have surely heard about Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell’s arrest for a DUI. According to the police report, Bell was surprised by the charges. He didn’t know that you could be arrested for a DUI while…

Proposed Legislation to Make Ignition Interlock Required for All DUI Convictions

In Pennsylvania, ignition interlock devices are required for repeat offenders of DUI laws. First time offenders are generally protected from the expense of an ignition interlock device, a mechanism installed into cars that requires the driver to blow a legal…

Worgul Recently Co-Authored Special Report on Marijuana Legalization

Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer Michael Worgul has recently co-authored a Thomson Reuters’ special report entitled Recent Trends in the Legalization of Marijuana: Understanding Federal Laws, Interpreting Changing State Laws, and Navigating the Conflict Between Them. To learn more or to…

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…