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...
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...
Tickets for Passing a Stopped School Bus – A Serious Traffic Offense
School is back in session. During your commute, you may see school buses and children at bus stops. For obvious reasons, it’s best to drive safely whenever near a school bus or bus stop. A bus whos...
You Received an Appearance Ticket or DAT – Now What?
An appearance ticket or DAT (Desk Appearance Ticket) is a summons issued by a police officer to appear in criminal court. If you’ve received an appearance ticket or have been arrested and received a D...
Hate Crimes in New York – What You Need to Know
Hate crimes are frequently talked about in the news. And in some cases, bias intent coupled with violence has led to serious injuries or even death. Such hate crimes are punished more harshly under fe...
Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations Extended by Child Victims Act
In early 2019, Governor Cuomo signed legislation which extends the statute of limitations for bringing cases against those who commit sexual abuse against children. The changes allow some adults to se...
Decriminalization of Marijuana in New York
In June, the New York legislature passed a bill which decriminalizes many marijuana possession offenses. While not fully legalizing the drug's possession, it shows that New York may soon become anothe...
Licensing of Multiple DWI Offenders by the New York DMV
As of October 2012, the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) began applying certain rules to persons with multiple convictions or incidents involving alcohol- or drugged-driving. As such, licen...
Gravity Knives No Longer Illegal In New York
On May 30, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed into law a bill removing criminal sanctions for the possession of gravity knives. This bill brings the state’s laws into line with a recent federal court decisio...