In a historic decision issued today, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that mandatory life without parole sentences for second-degree murder convictions violate the Pennsylvania Constitution. The Case at the Center of the Ruling Derek Lee, the subject of the case Commonwealth v. Derek Lee, was involved in a 2014 robbery in Pittsburgh. While Lee […]

The impact of a criminal record can touch many aspects of one’s life: employment, family relationships, and a loss of some freedoms. But one Pennsylvania woman was surprised recently when she discovered that she had been banned from Airbnb after a background check. The background check flagged a criminal conviction for opiate possession 9 years […]

Two criminal cases in Pennsylvania were overturned recently due to mistakes in the way an individual was charged. In one, charges were dropped against a driver suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) because he did not speak English, and in the second, a car was found to be illegally searched. In the DUI matter, […]

Pennsylvania law makes no distinction between medical and recreational cannabis, leading the way for medical marijuana patients to be prosecuted for driving under the influence (DUI), according to a news report from WFMZ-TV. Legislators are considering changing the law to address this concern for Pennsylvania’s 368,000 medical cannabis patients. Under the current zero-tolerance impaired driving […]

If you’re convicted of a crime in Pennsylvania, you have a limited time to file a challenge under the Pennsylvania Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA). But if you meet PCRA’s criteria, you could obtain a fair resolution, have your conviction overturned and/or your sentence reduced. The PCRA is a Pennsylvania law that allows you to file […]

We get many questions from clients on criminal law in Pennsylvania, including, most recently, the one that headlines this blog: “Can I appeal a criminal conviction from a car search?” Thanks to a significant development just a few months ago, the answer may be ‘yes.’ Back in 2014, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court cleared the way […]

Efforts to combat money laundering in 2021 are coming to fruition, according to an article in ABA Risk and Compliance. Additionally, federal agencies also plan to bolster anti money laundering (AML) compliance by overhauling old systems and harnessing the power of technology. The Financial Action Task Force, which sets international standards for financial crimes like […]

White-collar criminals who escaped notice during the Trump administration may be held to greater scrutiny under Biden, according to a recent article in the Portland Press Herald. Corporate wrongdoing, cheating on taxes, and taking foreign bribes are expected to be key focuses for federal prosecutors. Under the Trump administration, there was a 30% drop in […]

When prison officials assault or abuse inmates, the inmates may sue those officials and the municipality that runs the prison. A plaintiff inmate can hold the corrections officers directly responsible for the assault or abuse through theories of assault and battery or negligence. The inmate may also hold the municipality directly responsible through a claim […]