Violent offenses have to be taken seriously because New York’s laws are strict. You may have heard that shootings in New York City have increased despite the fact that other serious crime arrests have fallen, and that’s something that you should pay attention to. ...
New York Criminal Law Blog
Why do people make false confessions?
You hear about cases fairly frequently where someone insists that they are innocent, they get convicted anyway, and then that conviction gets overturned by DNA evidence. It’s clear that the person was right the whole time: They didn’t do it. There are other cases,...
The authorities have to follow the law during an investigation
During a prearrest investigation, there are steps that you will want to take to protect yourself. The police have to follow specific legal procedures when you’re arrested and taken into custody. Failing to do so, you could have a case against them or reason to have...
New York violent crimes: Should you accept a plea bargain?
In some criminal cases, defendants who have been accused of violent crimes may be offered a plea deal. Typically, this involves the prosecution offering the defendant a deal in which they plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a lighter sentence. For those...
When can police search my phone?
If you come under suspicion for a serious crime, whether for health care fraud, drug offenses or embezzlement, at some point police may request to search your phone as part of their investigation. However, just as when police may ask to search your residence, you...
Bringing weed back from your vacation could be a federal crime
New York has relaxed its laws about marijuana at the same time that many other states have taken much more drastic steps to reform marijuana policy. Given that New York does not have a legal market for marijuana, which means that you can't just order a delivery...
Defending yourself when accused of a violent crime
While acting violently is usually best avoided, there are some situations in which it is the only option to avoid being harmed. If you have recently been accused of a violent crime, you may have a good explanation for why you did act violently, or you may have been...
New York expunges marijuana convictions
New York is one of several states to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the news back in 2019, highlighting how the previous strict marijuana laws unfairly criminalized many people, and put them in jail,...
Should you ever speak to the police without a lawyer?
“You’re not a suspect. We just need you to help us understand what happened,” the investigator says. This is your chance, you think, to explain things and make the police realize that you did nothing wrong. Except that the whole statement is probably a lie -- and the...
Are spaces outside of your home subject to warrantless searches?
When the police want to build a case against you, gathering evidence and surveillance are often crucial to that process. You may know that officers can theoretically go through your trash and recycling when you bring them out to the curb. You may also know that police...
