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In Pennsylvania, a judge can sentence a defendant to a consecutive or a concurrent term of prison. No rule exists governing when a judge can give a consecutive sentence. On review, the appellate courts apply the same appellate principals to concurrent and consecutive sentences. Meaning, no greater scrutiny…
According to the Department of Research and Statistics[1] of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, there were 170,748 new criminal cases filed throughout the state of Pennsylvania in 2013. While is impossible to know with any degree of accuracy how many of the accused were innocent, common sense…
As summer is in full swing in Philadelphia, many people are headed to festivals, concerts, holiday celebrations, parks, lakes, and other similar locations to enjoy the warm weather and socialize with family and friends. We all know that many of these gatherings involve drinking alcohol and,…
A new synthetic drug that has resulted in a series of events involving bizarre behavior has Philadelphia health professionals concerned, according to a report published by CBS Philly. The drug, known on the street as “Flakka” or “Gravel,” has been described as a dangerous synthetic cathinone drug called alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (alpha-PDP)…
Criminal convictions are often accompanied by court-imposed penalties including probation, community service, fines, time in jail or prison, substance abuse treatment, and more. While these penalties can be difficult to face on their own, many criminal convictions may have a lasting adverse effect on many aspects…
The Pennsylvania Drug Court system was set up to help individuals who have committed crimes deal with any underlying substance abuse issues in order to reduce the chance of repeat offenses in the future. In addition to providing qualified evaluations, counseling, and other necessary treatment for offenders, drug…
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (DOT), there were 52,636 arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) made in our state during 2014. When police pull a vehicle over and suspect that the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they conduct an investigation just…
When you appeal your criminal conviction, four documents are very important for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania when making their decision: Your Brief (Appellant’s Brief) The District Attorney’s Brief (Appellee’s Brief) The Trial Judge’s Opinion Notes of Testimony & Exhibits from Trial The trial judge’s opinion…
Just the other day, we reviewed burglary in Pennsylvania. Since we were onto property crimes, I thought: let’s discuss Criminal Trespass. A big issue in burglary prosecutions is the prosecutor has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendant had the intent to commit a crimes in…
If law enforcement officers had the power to arrest anyone whenever they wished for any reason—or no reason at all—we would live in a totalitarian state without the rule of law. To avoid this situation and to preserve democracy, the Constitution of the United States as…
