Legislation Archives | Pappalardo & Pappalardo LLP

The “Gay Panic” Defense: Outlawed In New York

In the summer of 2019, New York became one of several states to ban “gay panic” defenses in homicide cases. Now, defendants cannot defend against a murder charge by claiming they were under extreme em...

Repeal of Section 50-a: Disclosure of Police Disciplinary Records

On Friday, June 12, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation repealing a law which prevented the disclosure of law enforcement disciplinary records to the public. What records were not previo...

Immigration Consequences of Criminal Charges

Understanding the Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions

After your arrest, your first question for your criminal defense attorney is usually, “Will I go to jail?” For those who are non-citizens, the more important question may be, “Can I stay in the United...

Rollback of Bail Reform in New York for Certain Offenses

On April 2, 2020, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the state's 2021 budget. Part of the budget is new legislation dealing with bail reforms which went into effect earlier this year. This ro...

Protective Orders in Criminal Prosecutions in New York

A protective order is an order that prevents the disclosure of certain information under certain circumstances. In New York criminal prosecutions, protective orders are being sought by prosecutors and...

Passport Identifier Required for Registered Child Sex Offenders

Beginning in 2017, the U.S. Department of State began labeling the passports of some people convicted of sex crimes. Any registrant convicted of a sex offense involving a minor must have an identifier...

Opinion: Why We Needed Bail Reform

By Jill K. Sanders The views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the writer only. They are not necessarily the views of the law firm or any of its attorneys. Beginning January...

Discovery Changes in New York – Repealing New York’s “Blindfold Law”

Discovery is the process by which a criminal defendant learns about the evidence in the prosecution’s case. This includes reports, witness statements, and physical evidence. In New York, criminal d...

CBD and the Cannabis Plant – What’s Legal, and What’s Not

It can relieve anxiety and depression. It helps you sleep. It’s sold in oils, sprays, and even lollipops. CBD, a chemical derived from the cannabis plant, seems to be everywhere. But what exactly is C...

Did New York’s Bail Reforms Go Too Far?

New York’s criminal justice system will soon undergo dramatic changes. As detailed in our two recent blogs, beginning January 1, 2020, there will be many changes. One such change will be regarding...

New York’s ‘Red Flag’ Law: Extreme Risk Protection Orders to Remove Guns

In August of 2019, New York’s “red flag” law went into effect. The law allows a court to issue an Extreme Risk Protection Order (“ERPO”). An ERPO prevents those who show signs of being a risk to thems...

Additional ‘Raise the Age’ Changes In Effect As of October 1

In New York, crimes committed by juvenile offenders account for about 20% of all arrests. Two years ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation approving reform known as “Raise the Age.” The new law...

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