Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

In 1997 President Clinton signed into law the Adoption and Safe Families Act. Designed to address what was perceived as chronic problems with the nation’s child welfare system, the ASFA required states to establish...

Relationships between couples are complex and highly emotional, especially during and after the divorce process. While no one can support acts of violence between partners, it is not uncommon for spouses to make accusations of...

Prevention From Abuse Orders – or PFAs – are the Pennsylvania equivalent to what the media commonly calls restraining orders or protective orders. Pennsylvania courts will only issue PFAs under certain circumstances, generally...

It can be overwhelming and frightening if you’re facing criminal charges in Pennsylvania. But if the police claim to have cell phone video footage of you committing a crime, you’re probably concerned about whether the...

Learning that you are suspected of having abused your partner’s children is one of the most upsetting things that can happen to anyone, and no matter where the accusation is coming from, it can have a seriously detrimental...

We all know that domestic violence is a problem. Family violence can sometimes have tragic endings, so Pennsylvania law takes domestic violence seriously. However, sometimes a mistake in the heat of the moment can have harsh...

How many text messages do you think are sent each day? The global total tops out at 23 billion—that’s 270,000 each minute! And that’s not counting the communication that takes place via messaging apps like WhatsApp,...

Recent press reports that Pennsylvania public transit authorities are installing or considering installing increasingly sophisticated, artificial-intelligence-based metal detection and video surveillance systems. Video cameras...

Recent press indicates a soaring incidence of parents leaving their children unattended in vehicles in casino parking lots while the parents gamble. Public officials report a staggering 60% increase in such incidents just in the...

In 2012, the infamous child sex abuse trial of Penn State football coach, Jerry Sandusky, took place. During the proceedings, it was revealed that an assistant coach had witnessed the coach molesting an underage boy a decade prior...

Many family issues, like divorce or child custody battles, can lead to exaggerated, or even false, claims of domestic violence. Pennsylvania statutes don’t define the term “domestic violence” exactly, instead, they allow...

Pennsylvania’s General Assembly continues to consider amending current laws to make criminal history expungements more widely available to more minors convicted of misdemeanors or felonies. The proposed legislation, Senate...

Caregivers and conservators of aging loved ones serve a vital role in elder care. Managing day-to-day healthcare, emotional support, and finances means you have a majority stake in their well-being. Such a position can be arduous...

Domestic violence crimes in Pennsylvania are serious, and laws are stringent concerning any allegations. Even being accused of domestic violence can cause severe disruptions to everyday life and family ties, as alleged offenders...

A North Carolina community college student was arrested after three rifles, ammunition, and “material that linked the individual to a hate-based group” were found in his car, according to a statement from the local police...

Pennsylvania addresses violence within dating relationships with severe punishments. Even the lowest charge of a third-degree misdemeanor carries one year of jail time. Emotions are often running high after instances of domestic...

Each year in the United States, over 10 million adults are physically abused by an intimate partner. In many cases, they are also abused verbally, emotionally, and financially—and this mistreatment can be debilitating,...

A town called Sunbury, located in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley, has a population of around 9,661—for now. However, if some city council members get their wish, the number of Sunbury residents could change....

Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders are always emotional and difficult to deal with. You may feel angry and alone. But the situation can be even more painful if the PFA involves minor children. Tragically, a recent Lancaster case...

State Police in Coudersport were sent to the scene of a motor vehicle action and Protection from Abuse (PFA) violation. Roberto Diaz apparently entered the sleeping victim’s home through the unlocked garage door and took...