Westchester New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Exposure, Lewdness, and Other Offenses Against Public Sensibilities

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. There are some actions which are considered so offensive that they are criminalized. In New York, this includes exposure of intimate parts and other types of lewdness. They...

Traffic Stops and Pat-Down Searches by Police in New York

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. You’ve been pulled over by a police officer. It's just for a traffic violation – your taillight is out, you moved out of a lane without signaling, or some other minor infra...

The Rise of Electronic Monitoring and its Costs to Criminal Defendants

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. During the covid-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the use of electronic monitoring. Yet such monitoring has been available for some time. The use of ankle bracelets in...

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Suicide is a crime in some parts of the world. While it is not criminalized in New York, it is still marked by stigma and taboo. Unfortunately, many people involved in the...

The Grand Jury and Its Role in the NY Criminal Legal System

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. The term petit jury refers to the jurors who determine a defendant’s guilt or innocence. In contrast, a grand jury is a larger group of jurors that determine whether there...

Proffer in a Criminal Prosecution: A Negotiation Tactic

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In the criminal legal world, the word proffer takes on a special meaning. It refers to a meeting between the defendant, his attorneys, and the prosecution. During this sess...

The Hidden Costs of the NY Criminal Legal System

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. The old saying goes, “Crime doesn’t pay.” And in New York, getting involved in the criminal legal system can actually cost a lot of money. From supervision fees, to restitu...

Clemency in New York: Pardons, Commutations, and Restoration of Rights

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Many people have heard of the President of the United States granting clemency. But individual state Governors can grant pardons as well. Here, we discuss the difference be...

Sexual Harassment in New York: What It Really Means Under the Law

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Sexual harassment has been a hot topic in the news for the past several years, particularly as a result of the #metoo movement. Regardless, instances of this conduct in the...

Getting Charged in New York With Boating While Intoxicated

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. It’s a beautiful summer afternoon, and you’re enjoying some time on the water in your boat. After having a few beers, you drive the boat back toward your marina. But you ge...

No “Community Caretaking” Exception to Search of Home Without Warrant

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. The Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution states, “The right of the people to be secure in their… houses… against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated...

Facial Recognition and Its Use by Law Enforcement

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Facial recognition is a way of identifying someone using a picture of their face. Then it is compared to pictures in a database. For example, if you have an iPhone, you may...