Westchester New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

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

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. 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...

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

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. 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 every...

Did New York’s Bail Reforms Go Too Far?

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. 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 su...

Can Your Criminal History “Rap Sheet” Be Wrong?

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Can you rap sheet be wrong? The short answer is "yes." And if it is incorrect, it could impact you dramatically. For example, you could lose job opportunities or be denied...

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

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. 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 si...

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

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. 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...

Assault of a Police Officer – a Serious Felony Offense in New York

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Police officers protect our communities. While doing their job, they can become injured – sometimes because of the actions of those they are trying to arrest. And when a de...

Tickets for Passing a Stopped School Bus – A Serious Traffic Offense

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. 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 bu...

Wrongful Conviction Film Shows Effects of Fabricated Charges

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In August of 2019, the film Brian Banks was released. It portrays the true story of Brian Banks, whose wrongful conviction nearly destroyed his dream of playing in the NFL....

You Received an Appearance Ticket or DAT – Now What?

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. 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 be...

Reckless Driving in New York – More Than a Traffic Ticket

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Reckless Driving is more than a mere traffic infraction. It is a misdemeanor offense which, if convicted, may result in you having a criminal record. What Is the...

Permissive License Suspensions for New York Traffic Incidents

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Driving is considered a privilege and not a right. As such, the Commissioner of the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles (“DMV”) may suspend or revoke your license if you are a...