Many recreational drugs are highly addictive. This means that the more a person uses, the more they physically and psychologically rely on the drug. Addiction comes with countless downsides: It means that a person will prioritize gaining access to their drug over...
New York State Criminal Defense
Understanding New York’s coercion laws
Most people are familiar with the term “extortion.” Under New York state law, it’s referred to as “coercion.” You might associate coercion with organized crime families or street gangs who offer to “protect” a business in exchange for regular payments or threats that...
The importance of keeping calm if arrested for a drug offense
If the police arrest you and charge you with a drug offense, it can a harrowing and unsettling experience. You may have heard accounts of other people who served time for drug crimes they claim had nothing to do with them. It is important to avoid panicking and...
How old New York knife laws hurt blue-collar workers
When you use a knife to perform your job, you probably open and close it repeatedly throughout your day. Locking, complex folding blades aren't the best tool for someone who installs carpet or frequently opens packages on a loading dock. Something that you can quickly...
What kinds of drug charges can prosecutors level against you?
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...
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...
