Carbondale Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Law Blog

Each year thousands of Pennsylvania residents are arrested on drunk driving charges. The circumstances that lead to these arrests can be quite varied but, in most cases, a law enforcement officer will allegedly view some traffic violation, initiate a traffic stop and only once coming into contact with the driver might the officer believe that the driver is under the influence of alcohol. So, what is the best approach to fighting drunk driving charges in Pennsylvania?

Well, the approaches to these types of cases can be as varied as the circumstances in which they arise. For some people, the best approach is to seek the best possible plea bargain. For others, it may be best to attempt to get some of the evidence that the prosecution will try to use in the case suppressed. And, for some, the best approach is to fight the case all the way to a trial in front of a jury of peers.

Criminal charges are possible related to the abuse of prescription drugs and the illegal sale of prescription drugs. It is both illegal to use prescription drugs without a prescription that is valid and to distribute prescription drugs that are illegally obtained without a valid prescription and there are potential criminal penalties for doing both. Potential penalties and consequences for any type of drug charges can be severe.

The penalties for illegally using or selling prescription drugs vary by state so it is important to be familiar with the laws in your state and the potential penalties in your state. Prescription drugs can be obtained in various illegal ways by pharmacists illegally selling them, other medical professionals stealing and selling them, through fraudulent prescriptions or the practice of doctor shopping by going to multiple doctors to obtain prescriptions.

Drug charges are always serious charges that carry potentially stiff consequences and penalties. A good criminal defense may be able to reduce the charges the accused individual is facing, or reduce the potential penalties the accused individual is facing, so accused individuals should always be familiar with their criminal defense rights and options.

Drug charges can lead to incarceration, steep fines and probation. Mandatory minimum sentences can apply to charges based on the amount of drugs the accused individual is alleged to have been in possession of. In addition, potential penalties and consequences can increase if the accused individual has faced drug charges in the past. Drug charges can result in a loss of freedom as well as the accused individual's ability to possess a firearm and can also limit their future educational, employment and housing opportunities.

This blog recently discussed what child pornography charges include and, because many of them involve the use of a computer, it can be useful to also understand what qualifies as a "cybercrime," which refers to a variety of online activities that may be criminal and do not all refer, certainly, to sex crimes. To begin with, some cybercrimes are unique to online activity, such as hacking, while others are common crimes committed using a computer, like larceny or fraud.

Different state computer crime laws make it a crime to engage in certain behaviors without authorization, including: improperly accessing a computer, computer system or computer network; modifying, damaging, using, disclosing, copying or taking programs or data; introducing a virus or other contaminant into a computer system; using encryption in aid of a crime; falsifying email source information; interfering with the computer use or access of someone else; or stealing information from a service provider.