Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

The legal system has lofty goals, with providing everyone a fair trial and ensuring justice is served among the items that top this list. The legal system attracts many good, honest people who dedicate their lives to carrying out...

Pennsylvania police charged a mother with child endangerment, reckless endangerment, and corruption of minors after she accidentally mixed her child’s baby formula with vodka. The incident occurred in March this year....

When you’re embroiled in conflict with your spouse or significant other, life can get complicated – and sometimes, when a confrontation escalates or becomes physical, law enforcement becomes involved by serving protection...

In a recent blog, we detailed the many complex issues stemming from Pennsylvania’s probation system. Now, let’s dive into the ways lawmakers can work to overcome those issues. There’s no shortage of research on...

Pennsylvania probation reform efforts are back in the news after a recent editorial was published in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The authors call upon the General Assembly to cut costs and improve safety for the citizens of...

Domestic violence is a traumatic event. It is particularly devastating when the violence results from a crime of passion because the accused, overcome by emotional crisis, can be incapable of rational thought in the heat of the...

The juvenile justice system across the country differs in many ways from the adult system. This difference is by design, as it recognizes a discrepancy in life experiences and brain development. If working correctly, this divide...

After you’ve committed a crime in Pennsylvania, you might assume that your criminal record is visible to every state, county, and municipal government agency. That’s not always the case, however. Depending on the type...

A criminal case is high stakes because of the potential penalties involved, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that it also needs to be high drama. Yes, heated exchanges concerning the facts or legal issues are par for the...

Over the course of the most recent two-year legislative session, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed some 280 new bills introducing new criminal offenses or toughening penalties for offenses already on the books. If that sounds like a...

In 2014, a Pennsylvania doctor was arrested for growing marijuana in his home. When police arrived, he was actually taking apart his growing operation, something that would produce mere ounces. He started growing marijuana to help...

Across PA, police officers often wear body cameras to obtain audio and video recordings. While these recordings can sometimes help the prosecution by corroborating a police officer’s account, they can also help the defense....

Interacting with local law enforcement representatives can be a harrowing experience. If you’re not sure what officers wish to charge you with, you may feel intimidated and out of control. There are certain responses to a...

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (DAO) recently announced a pilot diversion program to place youth who have committed minor offenses in after-school arts classes to help them avoid entering the juvenile...

Being arrested is a harrowing experience for anyone, but individuals with special needs can face additional challenges, especially because the criminal justice system isn’t always equipped to handle those needs. Pennsylvania...

Perhaps Altoona’s Joseph Clark III didn’t read the fine print on the Protection From Abuse (PFA) order that a female plaintiff successfully filed against him. It could be, he didn’t understand it the first time...

Law enforcement is a challenging, dangerous job involving considerable discretion that officers must exercise on the spot. Sometimes arrest and charging decisions can veer into questionable areas, and that’s exactly when you...

Prior to 1994, a person serving a life sentence in Pennsylvania had a fair chance of receiving a commutation from the clemency or a pardon. At that time, a prisoner only needed a 3-2 majority vote from the Pennsylvania Board of...

Local judges in Pennsylvania have a substantial influence over the criminal legal system–and not just in a criminal trial. How judges use their discretion throughout the process can make an enormous difference in how long a...

Tom Petty said it well in his hit song, Walls: “Some days are diamonds, some days are rocks.” In late April, Gregory Lee Clark, 54, of St. Clair Township, got a rock. Early in the evening of the 27th, two deputies showed up at...