Even in very serious cases, eyewitness testimony doesn’t have to be as strong as you may assume to gain a conviction for the prosecution. Thin evidence and questionable statements from people who claim to have seen something take place often can help sway a jury. One...
After a traffic stop, when can the state police decide to hold you for an extended period of time and search your car? In Pennsylvania, the answer seems to be, “Whenever they feel like it,” even if doing so is actually illegal. All it takes to pull over a car is “mere...
Most people who have grown up with computers know about hacking and how it can be used to get into other people’s computers and smart devices. Some people “hack” into their friends’ devices to play pranks on them or to post as them on social media. While that’s not...
In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to take on the identity of another person and to use that information without the victim’s consent. It doesn’t matter how you get the other person’s information; if you have it and use it for any reason, then you can be charged with...
In the event that you’re pulled over for suspicion of DUI, it’s natural to have concerns about what will unfold over the next few minutes. While the officer will do their part in determining if you’ve broken the law, there are steps you can take to protect yourself....
If you’re pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, the officer will do whatever they can to get to the bottom of their suspicion. In addition to asking you questions, they may request that you take a field sobriety test and/or breathalyzer...
When people quantify or rank criminal charges, misdemeanors are clearly the least significant, while felonies are often more serious both in terms of social stigma and the potential penalties involved. However, there is actually a third tier of criminal charges that...
You’re the defendant in a criminal case, and you want to make sure that you do all you can to protect your interests. You know that there is a chance that you’ll be asked to testify, even though you could make a mistake or say something that doesn’t sit right with the...
You may have heard that eyewitnesses are often wrong in criminal cases. They tend to get a lot of support from the court and the jury tends to believe them, but that doesn’t mean they’re always right. When DNA evidence overturns cases, it is found that inaccurate...
The second amendment protects the rights of Americans to own and possess firearms, as well as the right to form a militia outside of the official armed forces sanctioned by the government. Generally speaking, lawmakers at the state and federal levels are reluctant to...
