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....
The right to a lawyer is as important to the American justice system as the right to a fair trial. The two go hand-in-hand. Anyone who is accused of a crime, regardless of the nature of that crime or the evidence against them, has a right to a fair trial and legal...
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...
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...
Medical fraud has been a political hot-button for a long time, and the rising cost of medical services in this country virtually guarantees that trend will continue. The vast majority of medical insurance fraud isn't the result of people getting benefits they don't...
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...
If you are stopped and asked to take a Breathalyzer test by the Carbondale police, you might feel offended. Especially if you have not been drinking or only had one beer. You might consider refusing to take the test. However, this would be a bad idea. Under...
Just because the IRS audits your tax return doesn’t mean they’ll find any wrongdoing. In fact, you may be confident that your return is 100% accurate and you won’t find yourself dealing with any issues. However, there’s never a guarantee when it comes to the IRS and a...
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...
