Posts by Julie Rendelman
Should you accept? The advantages and disadvantages of plea bargaining
Prosecutors will often present defendants and their counsel with plea bargains in criminal cases. When you accept, you’re often entering a guilty plea to lesser charges in exchange for a lighter sentence or similar incentive. Such an offer should never be discussed if your defense attorney is not present, as an opportunity that looks attractive…
Read MoreLive-streaming crimes
These days, social media documents practically everything we do, from birthday parties to vacations and weddings. Now it appears that people are using Facebook, Periscope, and other Internet platforms to live stream their crimes. In April of 2016, 18-year-old Marina Lonina and 29-year-old Raymond Gates, both residents of Ohio, were arrested after Gates raped Lonina’s…
Read MoreGraffiti: Art that gets you arrested
In New York, graffiti is practically part of the local landscape. Everywhere you go, you see bright lettering, splashes of color, and even large murals displaying some personal, social, or political messages on the side of a building and on or around bridges and overpasses. Although graffiti makers and their supporters proclaim its artistic value,…
Read MoreIs DNA evidence always foolproof?
DNA made its first appearance in the mid-1980s, but it wasn’t until 1987 that it became an integral part of the U.S. criminal justice system. On February 5 of that year, an Orange County, Florida jury convicted serial rapist Tommy Lee Andrews after tests matched his DNA to a semen sample taken from one of…
Read MoreNow you can pay bail online
Traditionally, the only way to post bail for someone in New York City was to make the payment in person at one of the jails or courts. A fax message was then sent to the facility holding the person to indicate that their bail was posted and they were free to go. The system’s flaws…
Read MoreManhattan District Attorney will stop prosecuting marijuana smoking and possession
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance has confirmed that starting August 1, his office will no longer be prosecuting marijuana smoking and possession cases. The announcement was the result of six months of policy analysis and research that included discussions with legal authorities in areas where marijuana possession and use is no longer a criminal…
Read MoreFederal criminal forfeiture: What you need to know
Did you know that if you are convicted of a federal offense that you stand to lose more than your freedom? Using a process known as criminal forfeiture, the government can seize certain assets and property after and, in some instances, before your conviction. Criminal vs. civil forfeiture Criminal forfeiture is part of an overall…
Read MoreDouble Jeopardy: What it is and when it doesn’t apply
We hear the term “double jeopardy” thrown around a lot in courtroom dramas and there’s even a 1999 movie of the same name. Despite—or perhaps because of—the fact that the term is so prevalent in popular culture, the true meaning is not well understood outside of the legal profession. Double jeopardy, which is referenced in…
Read MoreCriminal law: What you see on TV vs. reality
Crime TV has been entertaining us for generations. From the black and white Perry Mason courtroom dramas to the dark and gritty episodes of Law and Order, we’ve been educated on how the criminal justice system works—or have we? These shows are so engaging and well-written that it’s easy to forget that they only imitate…
Read MoreYour digital privacy is now before the Supreme Court
At the end of November, the Supreme Court heard opening arguments in Carpenter v. United States, a landmark digital privacy case. At issue is whether or not the police require a warrant to track the location of a smartphone. The case involves Timothy Carpenter, who was accused of joining several friends in robbing Michigan and…
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