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...
Criminal Defense
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,...
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...
Are eyewitnesses reliable forms of evidence?
In New York and across the nation, the justice system uses eyewitnesses as forms of evidence in criminal cases. Eyewitness evidence holds power in a criminal trial, as more jurors are likely to find a person guilty if eyewitness testimony is present. Yet, studies show...
Is a plea bargain a good option?
When you face a criminal charge in New York, it is important to understand your options. Your approach could differ depending on what charge you are up against and what your criminal record looks like. One potential way to handle a charge is by accepting a plea...
Is drugged driving as dangerous as drunk driving?
When the debates to legalize marijuana began to intensify, many people pointed to drunk drivers as proof that alcohol was far more dangerous. There is some merit to the argument, but if law enforcement catches you driving under the influence of marijuana or other...
Why would someone make a false confession?
False confessions are a lot more common in the American justice system than you might realize. Some social scientists believe this is behind the record-high successful prosecution rate in the country. Many people prefer to plead guilty or falsely confess than fail to...
The effects of circumstantial evidence on a case
In homage to its title of “land of the free,” the American justice system presumes someone is innocent until proven guilty. On paper, this makes it necessary for prosecutors to establish a case that leaves no reasonable doubt of guilt. In spite of this, many innocent...