Westchester New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Does “Raise the Age” Legislation Do More Harm Than Good?

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In 2017, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law legislation raising the age of criminal responsibility in the state of New York. The new laws affect many, as nearly 28,000 j...

What to Look for When Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. When you get arrested or are being investigated for a crime, one of the first concerns you may have is who will be representing you in court. If you don't know a lawyer, it...

Electronic Monitoring and Other Forms of “e-Carceration”

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In a move to end mass incarceration, “e-carceration” is on the rise. E-carceration refers to different types of technology to gather information to constrain the liberty of...

Parole Board Hearings in New York

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. If you have a loved one in prison, you may often think about if there is any way for him/her to be released from prison early. One way for your loved one to get home sooner...

Pappalardo Firm Successful in SORA Modification Petition in Westchester

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. On October 23, Pappalardo & Pappalardo was successful in having the SORA sex offender risk level modified for client J.M. J.M. has been dutifully registering for more t...

Not Guilty Verdict in Trial of DWAI Issued at Check Point

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. The attorneys at Pappalardo & Pappalardo secured a not guilty verdict after trial for client A.H., who had been charged with Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol (...

The Basics of Handling a New York Criminal Appeal

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. As a follow-up to our recent post about the basics of New York's criminal justice system, here we'll provide a brief overview of what happens when you appeal a criminal con...

How to Lower Your SORA Sex Offender Registration Level

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. When a person convicted of a sex offense is sentenced, or when that person is released from prison, there will be a hearing to determine his or her level of registration pu...

The Basics of the New York Criminal Justice System

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. If you’re being investigated for a crime, or even if you’ve already been arrested, you may have some questions about how the criminal justice system in New York works. Unde...

When Your License Gets Suspended for Non-Driving Violations

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Many of us need to drive to get to work, take care of our children, or attend school. However, there is no absolute right to drive in the state of New York - it is consider...

Kendra’s Law – Getting Mental Health Treatment for Those Leaving Prison

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Not everyone with a serious mental illness needs to be committed to a psychiatric facility. In fact, many (if not most) people with serious mental illness can function well...

New York’s Governor Signs Bill Creating Nation’s First Commission to Investigate Prosecutorial Misconduct

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. On August 21, 2018, New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation establishing the State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct. The Commission will be the first of its...