Criminal Defense
Graffiti: 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…
Read MoreIs sharing your Netflix password really a federal offense?
Have you ever logged into your parents’ Netflix account? Let your brother use your login while he was visiting? Then you may have committed a federal crime. In July 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that it was illegal to use another person’s password to access a service without the approval of the company…
Read MoreHow has arson evolved as a crime in New York?
Arson became a big issue in New York City in the 1970’s. In fact, arson was what some would even consider a fact of life back then– in 1976, there were 13,752 reported cases of arson. Compare that to 2012 numbers like 2,000 and it is interesting to look back at how this issue evolved…
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