Pennsylvania residents who find themselves arrested for burglary need to act fast. The charges can quickly work against you. Understanding the elements of burglary might help in your defense. What is burglary? Burglary is a theft crime that involves illegally entering...
Criminal Defense
How to challenge the results of a breath test
If you have been arrested and charged with DUI in Pennsylvania, it is important to know your rights. Before anything, keep in mind that you have the right to challenge the results of a breath test. A DUI conviction can have serious consequences, so it is important to...
Beware of police interrogation techniques used in Pennsylvania
If you are arrested in Pennsylvania, be prepared for a long and intense interrogation process. Police and prosecutors in this state use several techniques to try and extract a confession from suspects. In some cases, these methods can be quite persuasive - even...
The troubles with hair analysis evidence
Compelling evidence could lead to a conviction in a Pennsylvania criminal courtroom. Video footage, blood samples, and eyewitness testimony may come together to paint a picture of guilt. Hair samples might enter into evidence, sometimes swaying guilty verdicts....
How underage drinking charges could impact your college student
It happens all too often; your college student was at a party and the police showed up and made multiple underage drinking arrests or citations. You receive a frantic call from your child worrying about their future and the potential ramifications of the incident....
Expert witnesses do hurt cases in Pennsylvania
Expert witnesses are a crucial part of criminal defense. They (are expected to) offer an unbiased, expert opinion on the case that can help to sway the jury in favor of the defendant. However, not all expert witnesses are created equal. Some experts are more credible...
What is considered admissible evidence?
During a criminal case, both the prosecution and the defense rely on evidence to prove or disprove a claim made by either party. For consideration by the court, the evidence must be reliable, relevant and free from prejudice. Evidence that unfairly creates an...
Penalties for theft and larceny in Pennsylvania
An individual commits theft when they take another person’s property with no intention of returning it. Prosecutions for theft in Pennsylvania range from shoplifting cases involving items worth a few dollars to elaborate real estate schemes involving property worth...
What is criminal mischief?
Sometimes what starts as harmless fun can end with criminal charges. Criminal mischief is a common charge that may result from out-of-control parties, pranks and other similar events. What is criminal mischief? The legal definition of criminal mischief A person may be...
What is the ARD program?
If you are a drug offender in Pennsylvania and it is your first offense, then you might be able to avoid a criminal conviction. It's part of a program that the state runs called ARD, or Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. This program is designed to make life...