Over the years, new technology has played an increasing role in the justice system. For instance, criminal cases used to hinge solely on witness testimony. Today, everything from DNA tests to predictive policing technology can play a role in criminal court. As...
College prep: Talk to your kids about criminal offenses at school
If your child is going to college in the fall, they are likely thinking about the classes they will take and where they will live. Preparing for college life can be exciting and fun, but parents would be wise to talk to teens about the realities of criminal offenses...
What to know about criminal mischief charges
There is a wide range of situations that can end with a person facing criminal mischief charges. It is one of the most common crimes in Pennsylvania, and it is often just one of multiple offenses a person might be charged with after a single incident. However, while...
What is at stake if you are charged with a DUI?
Driving drunk is a mistake that just about anyone could make. And anyone could find themselves stopped on the side of the road, from a teenager driving home after a party to a grandparent who takes medication that interacts poorly with alcohol. No matter who you are,...
Parents: Talk to kids about the line between pranks and crimes
Pulling pranks, causing mischief, testing boundaries. Whatever you call it when a teen acts out or gets into trouble, it can cause headaches for parents. However, it could also create a criminal record for your child. Worse, a teen could wind up tried as an adult in...
Strategies for fighting false accusations
Being falsely accused of any crime is incredibly upsetting. Depending on the type of allegations a person is levying, you could be facing jail time, loss of custody, orders to register as a sex offender, or massive fines and penalties. Your reputation, job and family...
Changes could be coming to BUI laws in Pennsylvania
Getting out on your boat to water ski, fish or just relax is something people look forward to every summer in Pennsylvania. This could be especially true this year, as people have mostly been in their homes for the past few months. But one thing that could seriously...
Shifts in crime and citations across Pennsylvania
Current stay-at-home orders have meant that most Pennsvylanians have been at home, battling boredom and attempting to adjust to a new normal. This unprecedented situation has undoubtedly taken a toll on residents, and it has affected people's behaviors and decisions....
Served with a Protection from Abuse order? What you should know
Relationships are complicated, particularly when one or both parties are angry or wanting to end it. People say things they may not mean and do things they know they should not do. And in the heat of a fight or breakup, allegations of threats or assault can arise....
Pretrial assessment programs do not appear to capture actual risk
In America today, the large majority of people being held in local jails have not been convicted of any crime. Instead, they are being held in pretrial detention. That means they have either been denied bail or have been assigned a bail amount that they cannot afford....
