Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

When a defendant faces the prospect of a state prison sentence in Pennsylvania, it can be difficult to accept.  As burdensome as a county jail sentence can be, whether in Philadelphia or elsewhere, for a person facing the...

The stakes are high when a person is accused of violating his or her probation or parole in Pennsylvania.  No one wants to have to face the potential consequences of a violation of probation hearing or a parole revocation...

When a defendant is placed on probation or parole in Pennsylvania, this will be better than the standard alternative of incarceration.  Granted, a defendant may have to serve a period of time in jail or prison prior to being...

When a first-time offender gets into trouble with the law, the consequences can be more severe than a person who has a criminal record.  There is an obvious benefit to keeping one’s record clear, and this will be the...

When a person is on probation or parole in Pennsylvania and is faced with a revocation hearing, because so much can be stake, including a person’s employment, family obligations, future prospects, and not to mention his or...

A “1543” offense in Pennsylvania is one of the most serious offenses that a driver in the Keystone State may face.  A Pennsylvania driver who is charged with a 1543 traffic offense will generally face such a...

First-time offenders in Philadelphia, whether professionals, college students, or anyone else who makes a mistake can often benefit by resolving their criminal charges through Philadelphia’s Accelerated Rehabilitaitve...

All Pennsylvania drivers have enough to be concerned about whether they are driving to and from work or school, or have personal or family obligations that require a trip on the road.  For other drivers in Pennsylvania, the...

When a person is arrested for a DUI charge in Philadelphia, there will be consequences.  Even if an aggressive defense is mounted and a person is found not guilty of driving under the influence, or has the charges dismissed...

“To err is human, to forgive divine.”  People make mistakes.  That is the nature of life at times.  Some mistakes will have limited consequences, and some mistakes can unfortunately have profound...

Pennsylvania is called the “Keystone State” for a reason.  The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as it is officially known, is bordered by Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, New York, and New Jersey.  Many...

People from all walks of life make mistakes.  Unfortunately, some mistakes result in consequences that can be severe.  Whether someone is a professional with licensing issues to be concerned about, a college student with...

A person on probation or parole has the opportunity to be home with family and go to work in lieu of being incarcerated, but while on probation or parole, a person has to walk a fine line.  Technical violations such as...

Although it may seem so basic that it does not need to be addressed, there are some DUI cases that will be decided on whether or not the defendant is deemed to be driving a “vehicle” as defined by Pennsylvania law.  More...

People who get arrested for a DUI in Pennsylvania come from diverse backgrounds.  DUI defendants can include professionals such as doctors, nurses, accountants, working-class people, college students, and so forth.  Just...

For a person to be convicted of a DUI offense in Pennsylvania, there are certain elements of the offense that the prosecution must prove.   For example, the prosecution must prove that the person was “driving” a...

When a person is arrested and charged with a crime in Pennsylvania for the first time in his or her life, the person will be known as a “first-time offender.”  Unlike people who have prior criminal contacts,...

When a person is arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Pennsylvania, many times such a person is a first-time offender; having never been in trouble with the law before.  For a first-time offender in...

When a person in Pennsylvania is “wanted” by law enforcement authorities from another state, they may find themselves arrested and detained in Pennsylvania pending extradition to the state that is seeking the...

Because a preliminary hearing is such an important court proceeding in Pennsylvania, and can determine the ultimate outcome of a criminal case, a question that should be answered is, “Do I have a right to a preliminary...