Weeks of protests following the death of George Floyd, an African American man who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, have turned into weeks of arrests. Police in cities across the U.S. have arrested protesters when...
In May 2020 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a four-year-old boy was found naked and covered in gasoline. Soon thereafter, authorities located and apprehended the boy’s father, 27-year-old Josiah James Macintosh reeking of...
The tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the subsequent protests all over the United States have forced the entire nation to grapple with policies related to race and policing. In Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf...
After spending 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, a Pennsylvania man walked free on Friday, June 5, the Guardian reports. Walter Ogrod, now 55, was accused of murdering his 4-year-old neighbor, Barbara Jean Horn, in...
When most people talk about the prospect of expungement, they are typically referring to the sealing of court proceedings and arrest records. There are countless reasons to seek this type of expungement, as prospective landlords...
If you are facing a potential protection from abuse (PFA) order, it is understandable if you have questions about what might happen next. The process can be confusing, especially for anyone that has never experienced it. It is...
If someone you live with gets a protection order against you, you may be required to move out, effective immediately. A Protection From Abuse (PFA) order can limit contact between the plaintiff and the defendant and it...
Allegations of domestic assault are not always cut and dried. In many cases, both of the parties involved in an accident might view how it occurred in very different light. Even when injuries occur, it might not immediately be...
It is not uncommon for fighting couples to have a change of mind after things cool down. Arguments that are really heated at the time may seem trivial a day later (and after the effects of alcohol have worn off). However, when an...
A protection from abuse (PFA) order is not something to be taken lightly. A PFA can have a serious impact on the defendant’s life, ruin their reputation, and cost a lot of money to get the order reversed. Many people find...
Allegations of domestic violence occur in countless different circumstances. In many cases, a heated argument or simmering disagreement can boil over into a physical altercation. In other cases, a domestic violence arrest could...
As we have discussed before, there are several collateral consequences that can come with a domestic violence conviction. Outside of jail time, the impact these convictions could have on your child custody rights are...
In Pennsylvania, the amount of time an expungement can take will vary. If all goes well, the process could wrap up in just a few months. However, missteps on your part can directly impact how long the process takes – or if your...
When the court issues a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order against the defendant, the defendant often will be prohibited from contacting the other party and will always be prohibited from harassing, abusing, or harming...
A criminal conviction of any kind can take its toll. Dealing with jail time and fines is never easy, but in most cases, they represent temporary setbacks. In some cases, criminal convictions can have permanent consequences. A...
A large number of alleged domestic violence incidents involve only the two people. Frequently spouses, these allegations often stem from arguments that allegedly became physical. However, other instances of alleged domestic...
If you have been arrested for domestic violence in Pennsylvania, you could be facing the risk of jail time and steep fines. While these consequences are serious, they are not the only way a domestic violence conviction could...
One of the toughest parts of a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order is that it can prevent parents from seeing their children. Even if the children were not involved in any abuse, a PFA between parents can limit contact...
Would Legislation Filed with the Pennsylvania Legislature Expunge Marijuana Convictions Automatically?
April 16, 2020
Popular opinion in favor of the legalization of marijuana has never been stronger. According to an October 2019 Gallup poll, support for legal marijuana has risen to 66 percent nationwide. Along with this support for...
A protection from abuse (PFA) order is sometimes called a restraining order. The PFA can effectively prohibit someone from contacting the subject of the PFA, going to their house or work, and even prohibit gun ownership. There are...