When an officer suspects you may have gotten behind the wheel under the influence, they have many tools that they may use to verify this suspicion. One of the first they will likely rely on is the field sobriety test. But what is this test? And how does it play into...
How can a criminal conviction impact your life?
Facing a criminal conviction at any age has the potential to severely impact your future. But for young adults and youth, a criminal conviction can keep you from even getting started in your adult life. In what ways do criminal convictions change and alter the...
Examining the true cost of a New York DWI
A New York conviction for drinking and driving may have personal, professional and financial repercussions. In addition to potentially making it harder for you to hold down a job or find a place to live, among other possible limitations, a New York DWI conviction is...
How can social media evidence become unreliable?
As a defendant in the internet age, you need to understand the impact social media has on a criminal case. A plaintiff can offer emails as evidence and a prosecutor can scour your public profile for information. According to the National Law Review, as the...
The 3 areas of negotiation for plea bargaining
No matter the nature of the crimes the courts are charging you with, it is almost a guarantee that plea bargaining will be a part of your tenure in the criminal justice system. Of course, whether it is a good idea or not to take a plea bargain depends on your...
What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine abuse?
Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug with a high risk of addiction. In addition to the legal impact of methamphetamine use, it can also have a serious effect on your health. This is especially true when the drug is used for an extended period of time. The National...
Can a drug conviction make students ineligible for financial aid?
Your child worked hard to get into college, and financial aid may have helped make it possible. What happens, though, if your son or daughter does what many other college students do when they get to school and starts experimenting with drugs? If authorities catch...
New process available to destroy records of some marijuana convictions
In the summer of 2019, the state of New York passed legislation that effectively decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. The law also mandated automatic expungement of past criminal convictions for possession of 25 grams or less. In September 2020,...
The best approach to an aggravated DWI charge
Prosecutors are incredibly aggressive when it comes to aggravated DWI charges. At James Kleinbaum Attorney at Law P.C., we understand what you are up against and know that you need to mount a proper defense to protect yourself from harsh punishment. You will want to...
Are you eligible for drug court in Albany County?
Many people engage in criminal behavior in New York not because they are bad people, but because they have substance dependencies that lead them to act in ways they otherwise would not. If you are facing a drug charge and you feel your charge was a result of your...
