Westchester New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

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...

Client’s Rights: What Defendants Should Expect From Their Attorneys

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. If you’re facing criminal charges, one of the most important relationships you have is that with your lawyer. But what if he doesn’t return your calls? If she doesn’t expla...

The Trial Penalty: Why Criminal Defendants Often Take a Plea Bargain

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Most criminal cases in today’s legal system are resolved by the defendant entering a guilty plea rather than by trial. Why? Because if a defendant goes to trial and is foun...

New York Pistol Carry Law to be Considered by US Supreme Court

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In New York, you must have a pistol carry permit to possess a handgun in public. Yet a showing of “proper cause” to obtain the license is required. Just wanting a gun for s...

Criminal Legal Responsibility: When an Adolescent Commits a Crime

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. An adolescent is less likely to appreciate the consequences of his/her actions. While this isn’t an excuse for their behavior, it does raise the question about what the app...