Blog
Magic mushrooms still transport you to Pennsylvania prisons
Americans everywhere are wondering how psilocybin mushrooms legality may change across the country after Denver, Colorado became the first and only city in the United States to decriminalize the drug. But, here's why it's important to remember the consequences of...
Driving while hungover can be just as dangerous
Just about everyone has been there at some point: you spent the night partying at a friend’s place and decided to crash there. Now the sun is up, and you feel like you’ve been hit by a bus. You drink some water, maybe take some painkillers to dull your...
4 common college student offenses
If you’ve recently sent your son or daughter off to college, it’s important to advise they use their new-found freedoms responsibly. After all, college is meant to help them become more employable — not less. Remind your child to be caution of the law by staying aware...
PA’s new ‘Clean Slate’ bill makes record sealing easier
We’ve written extensively on this blog about how mistakes that lead to an arrest or conviction can haunt a person for life. It can make it harder to find an apartment, get a job or enroll in college. That is why helping people who’ve served their sentences remain...
Supreme Court: Police need a warrant to track cellphone locations
Citing "the seismic shifts in digital technology" since the last time it considered the issue, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that people have a reasonable expectation that their cellphone's location data will be private. A reasonable expectation of privacy means...
Running from the police just makes things worse in most cases
When a confidential police informant said that a certain State College man was selling drugs from his residence on Carnegie Drive, the police still had work to do to make their case against him. Tipsters and police informants don't always provide accurate information...
Does your freedom from warrantless search extend to rental cars?
Unfortunately, far too many people in Pennsylvania and across the country are unaware of their right to deny police entry to their home or vehicle without a search warrant signed by a judge. Even if someone asks police to see a warrant, officers respond with questions...
Drug dealers can be charged with homicide in overdose cases
Although illicit drugs are dangerous, some college students nevertheless choose to experiment with them. Sometimes, this involves supplying friends with illegal drugs or prescription medications. Few of these young people anticipate that their friends may suffer a...
Honesty may be nice, but exercise your right to remain silent
You were probably taught as a child that honesty is the best policy. A criminal defense attorney's take might be that you should never lie to the police but you should always exercise your right to remain silent. Being forthcoming with officers about what laws you...
How do we know if breath testing machines are accurate?
When someone is arrested for DUI, one thing a defense attorney might look into is whether the breath test was accurate. These tests can be performed incorrectly, and the machines may be uncalibrated or calibrated improperly. Just as important, the machines are...
