Most people are aware that the distribution, manufacturing or trafficking of drugs is illegal. So too, however, are many other actions that could be associated with drug activity -- and the seriousness of some of the charges may surprise you. What are the different...
New York State Criminal Defense
Gun crimes rise in New York City despite anti-violence tactics
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. ...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
How to keep from losing your cool when you’re really angry
Feel overwhelmed and close to bursting? You’re not alone. Tensions are running high in the world due to a lot of different factors. It’s okay to be angry and upset. What’s not okay, however, is to let your anger take over and physically lash out at someone else --...