A Delaware bill mandating Catholic priests to report confessions of abuse or neglect to the police is stirring heated debate throughout our neighboring state. Supporters of the bill argue the law is necessary to protect children...
An 18-year-old Pennsylvania man was recently arrested and charged with raping another juvenile while the two were in a relationship in 2022. Because the alleged rapes occurred before the defendant turned 18, he was charged as a...
Have you ever heard that eating poppy seed bagels for breakfast can actually trigger a positive drug test? It sounds like an urban legend—drinking soda while eating Pop Rocks will kill you; swallowed chewing gum stays in your...
Former Mercyhurst Athletes Charged with Pushing Disabled Woman’s Wheelchair Down Pub Stairs
May 8, 2023
Wheelchair users know that in order to live a life of relative freedom, they sometimes need to abandon the chairs they otherwise rely on. For example, they may choose to patronize an establishment with restrooms located near a...
Forty-nine-year-old Milton resident Donald Kizer is a child predator hunter. That is, the grandfather of four poses online as an underage teen to flush out pedophiles, expose them to the world, and bring them to justice. Kizer...
The arrest of a Pennsylvania man who had been on the run from police for weeks highlights the serious consequences defendants who violate Protections for Abuse orders (PFAs) can face. Law enforcement officers apprehended Rick...
The legal landscape is constantly changing. On top of a mountain of other concerns, the list of dos and don’ts is ever-growing for those accused of crimes. Navigating your best course of action while trying to defend...
Getting convicted of a crime as a non-citizen can be a scary experience. In addition to all of the consequences that come with a criminal case, non-citizens must also have to worry about the threat of deportation. Because being...
Getting arrested for drug possession or other drug-related crimes can have a negative effect on many different areas of your life. You may have to report your drug conviction in applications for jobs or housing, or your conviction...
Pennsylvania imposes harsh penalties for the solicitation of sex with a minor. Courts often side with law enforcement and grant them significant powers to ensure minors are safe. A recent case involving a high school teacher and...
It’s long been established that family ties can reduce future recidivism, especially in younger individuals. But how can families keep those ties strong if their child has been sentenced to a juvenile detention facility...
Recent school and mass shootings, including a public elementary school in Uvalde, Texas; a Wal-Mart in Chesapeake, Virginia; a private elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee; and a synagogue in Squirrel Hill, make it clear that...
Childhood Trauma and Crime
April 20, 2023
As parents, we all do our best to keep our children safe, ensure they have the food, shelter, and clothing they need, and love them. But not every child is born into an ideal situation. Sometimes we can’t protect them from...
Lisa Herbenko, 49, allegedly siphoned $398,620.87 from the coffers of the Reading Education Association (REA). The organization, which advocates for the educational professionals and the students of Reading, PA, has been under...
Relationships are hard and sometimes emotional. It can be challenging to resolve conflict healthily, and sometimes conflicts between couples can escalate into threats of violence. In the worst-case scenario, people can end up...
One Mistake Should Not Define You Many of us have made mistakes during our lives – even mistakes that have led to arrests and subsequent convictions. Unfortunately, we now live in a world that is increasingly lived online. We...
Dealing with the police can be stressful enough, but if you aren’t native to the U.S., it can be even more so. Sometimes misunderstandings can arise from cultural or language differences, leading to more conflict than...
Domestic violence is a serious and underreported crime that claims thousands of lives every year. Statistics show that as many as 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men have experienced severe physical abuse or sexual abuse from a partner in...
Domestic violence is a serious problem in Pennsylvania and throughout the U.S. On average, nearly 20 people experience domestic violence every minute, with ten million victims of domestic violence each year. One in four women and...
Since the pandemic, teens have had to adapt to many changes during and after school. While schools were closed, teens suffered from the absence of sports and other after-school programs. In Pittsburgh, they found new places to...