Archive for the ‘criminal law’ Category

The last meeting of the Hellerton Block Watch featured some important warnings to community members on how to avoid being scammed. According to the Hellerton Patch, State Police Trooper Kelly W. Pearson discussed transient groups and common scams in an effort to raise awareness of the crimes. Read the rest of this entry »

A criminal conviction can haunt you for years. And while Pennsylvania schools already limited who could get employment within the system following a conviction, Act 24, a newer law, places a lifetime ban on those convicted of numerous offenses. Read the rest of this entry »

The Pennsylvania state House passed legislation this week that would increase penalties for convicted felons accused of possessing firearms. The bill now goes before the Senate, where it is likely to pass. Read the rest of this entry »

A bipartisan work group, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, was presented with the findings of a five-month analysis, studying ways to make the state safer while simultaneously saving money. The research, completed by the Council of State Governments Justice Center in partnership with the Pew Center on the States and the U.S. Department of Justice, showed that the state could save about $351 million and reinvest $88 million into public safety over a 5 year period. Read the rest of this entry »

Twice a year trace evidence technicians are tested, six at a time, to ensure they are well-equipped to keep handling their crucial job. In the latest round of testing, three technicians failed. Though the department hasn’t released additional details, they are assuring the public and the media that the issue is being addressed. Read the rest of this entry »

The U.S. Constitution says you have a right to effective counsel when you are accused of a criminal offense. This doesn’t mean you have to utilize this right, though most prefer to have their case handled by someone educated in the legal system. Just this past week, a Philadelphia man was sentenced to 37 years in federal prison after essentially representing himself. Read the rest of this entry »