Violent crimes are more serious offenses than traffic infractions or other victimless crimes. Those accused of violent criminal offenses may face jail time and expensive fines if they are convicted. There is also the lifelong impact of a criminal record to consider....
Violent Crimes
Violent Crimes
Defenses against the death penalty
Being found guilty of murder in Pennsylvania could lead you to be sentenced to the death penalty, otherwise known as capital punishment. This often leads the person found guilty to spend many years in prison before finally being put to death. Capital punishment is a...
What is domestic violence and what are the penalties for it in Pennsylvania?
Domestic violence is illegal in Pennsylvania, just like it likely is in virtually any other jurisdiction in the United States. The state outlines its treatment of domestic violence in Pennsylvania Statutes, Title 23, Sections 6102 and 6113. What constitutes domestic...
What are the justifications for the death penalty?
Some of the most concerning legal cases we can see in the history of the United States are those where convictions are later overturned by DNA evidence. While this may lead to the release of someone who is in prison, it naturally leads people to question the accuracy...
Even the thinnest eyewitness testimony can lead to a conviction
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...
What offenses could be capital crimes in Pennsylvania?
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...
Eyewitnesses are often wrong, but why?
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...
Getting caught with a gun after a domestic abuse conviction
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...
Arson investigation in Weatherly leads to other charges
Police investigations of major crimes often lead to the discovery of other crimes involving the same suspects. The two-year investigation of a suspected arson in Weatherly, has led local police to other crimes as well, including crimes related to drugs and explosives....
Everything families should know about domestic violence charges
Domestic violence is a term we are all familiar with but it can be useful to have a discussion of what the term refers in the legal sense and what the consequences are for domestic violence charges. Domestic violence can impact any family including families and...