Human Trafficking: What You Need to Know
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Recently, there was coverage in the news of a large operation to combat human trafficking at the World Games in Alabama. Homeland Security Investigations headed-up “Operati...
“Significant Misdemeanors” and the Impact on DACA Status
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Immigration is a hot topic of political interest in the US. Several years ago, the US created a program which allows some who were brought to the US as children to stay in...
How to Expunge a Prior Marijuana Conviction in New York
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In 2021, New York didn’t just decriminalize marijuana – the state legislature made it legal for recreational use. Under these new laws, convictions for such can, in some ca...
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...
Trial by Skype: Video Conferencing of Criminal Trials in New York
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. When the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic hit New York, the courts in our state closed for several weeks. Since then, many court appearances and conferences have been happenin...
Understanding the Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. 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 b...
Additional Reforms in the NY Criminal Justice System
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. As discussed in last week's blog, the legislature recently passed sweeping bail and discovery reforms. There are also several other reforms taking place. Here, we discuss a...
Criminal Charges and How They May Affect Your Status in the U.S.
If you are a non-citizen, any time you’re involved in the criminal justice means you may be facing the possibility of removal. In a criminal case where the defendant is a U.S. citizen, an attorney wil...
Why You Should Hire an Attorney When You’re Charged With a Violation
There are three types of offenses in New York: violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. While misdemeanors and felonies are considered “crimes,” violations are not for purposes of a criminal record. Th...