Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

In 2018, Pennsylvania passed its Clean Slate legislation (“Clean Slate”). Under the law, legislators added first-degree misdemeanor offenses punishable by imprisonment of no more than 2 years and upgraded offenses...

A recent article by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that lawmakers are pushing for legislation expunging low-level offender records. Under the old legislature, a judge determined an offender’s eligibility for...

A distressing video of a double homicide-suicide in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, made national and global news in early February. The footage shows three neighbors arguing over a snow shoveling incident, but the argument quickly...

A recent In Touch article alleges that former Teen Mom 2 star Kailyn Lowry filed a protection from abuse order (PFA) against ex-boyfriend Chris Lopez. Lowry, who has a child with Lopez and was pregnant at the time of the...

Sometimes people make mistakes, particularly when they are young. Unfortunately, while our justice system’s goal is supposed to be rehabilitation, it often becomes about punishment. After a felony conviction, even for...

Legalizing marijuana or cannabis both medically and recreationally has been a movement across the country. But right now, federal law still prohibits the use and possession of recreational marijuana. As a result, some state...

In Pennsylvania and many states, did you know that you can go to jail for murder even if you didn’t kill or even intend to hurt anyone? If someone dies during the commission of a felony, anyone involved in that crime can...

Despite overwhelming bipartisan support from Michigan’s House and Senate, Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently vetoed an expungement reform bill that would have allowed past offenders to petition for an expungement of...

As legislators across the country passed laws legalizing marijuana, people with past convictions for pot-related crimes wonder whether those reforms will help them. Some states have made pot expungements automatic as a function of...

Social media is one of the best ways to share experiences with family and friends. The explosive growth of these platforms and their multiple features make them easily accessible to people of all ages. However, some social media...

As public support in favor of legalizing marijuana grows, more and more states are passing reforms to decriminalize pot possession. With those efforts also come questions about how states will handle convictions for past marijuana...

Pennsylvania is spearheading criminal justice reform efforts and promoting positive societal change by introducing 24 new laws that go into effect this year. The state’s efforts are laudable, especially given the nature of...

Thanks to a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision, police officers can no longer search cars without a warrant unless there is both an emergency situation that demands immediate action, and probable cause that a crime...

One of the best ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is limiting contact with others through social distancing measures. But in jails and prisons across PA, that luxury is not possible – and inmates are paying the price....

For many Pennsylvania residents, securing a good job or home with a criminal record is nearly impossible. The economy’s uncertain state doesn’t help, with few opportunities and the rejection of qualified applicants to...

Mistakes from the past can have lasting effects on your future, particularly if those mistakes involve an arrest or criminal conviction on your record. A criminal record can stop you from getting a job, obtaining professional...

The spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania has impacted life in every area of the state, from stay-at-home orders to social distancing. The criminal justice system is no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic and new rules passed to limit...

The U.S. legal system deals austerely with people convicted of a crime. The bad news is that the harsh treatment extends beyond prison; and often encompasses everyday interactions and personal affairs. People who have criminal...

Pennsylvania State Police recently arrested a local man for violating a protection from abuse order (PFA). According to Chadds Ford Live, John Connelly, 25, of West Chester, was arrested for a violation alleged to have occurred...

Despite the newly-introduced COVID vaccine, the pandemic continues to modify how systems operate throughout the country. The changes help control the virus’s spread, especially with a looming surge in infection rates...