Westchester New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Court of Appeals Rules There’s No “Actual Innocence” Claim For Those Who Plead Guilty

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Most cases in the criminal justice system are resolved by guilty pleas rather than trials. Usually, it is to the benefit of both the prosecution and the defendant to resolv...

Asset Forfeiture in New York: How Law Enforcement Can Take Your Personal and Real Property

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. You may have seen the billboards in and around New York City – if you’re arrested for Driving While Intoxicated, the NYPD says it will take your car. Can this be true? Yes,...

Sex Offender Registration Laws Are Outdated and Need Changing for Child Pornography Offenses

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In New York, persons convicted of certain sexual offenses are required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act, also referred to as "SORA" or "Megan's Law." The...

Use of Jailhouse Informants and Recorded Calls in Criminal Prosecutions

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. When you get arrested, you may want to talk to anyone who will listen about your case and your experience with the criminal justice system. However, if you’re in custody, e...

New York Has a New Law Requiring Videotaping of Certain Interrogations

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. As of April 1, 2018, law enforcement in New York must now electronically record custodial interrogations with individuals accused of serious crimes. The law was passed with...

What to Do When the Prosecutor Questions the Source of the Funds Used for Bail

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Your first appearance in court is important for many reasons. For the defendant, one of the primary concerns is whether the judge will set bail and how much the bail will b...

Getting Arrested When You Are a New York Pistol License Holder

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. One of the consequences of being arrested in New York is that even if your arrest doesn’t result in a criminal conviction, you may lose your New York issued pistol license....

How Stealing an Amazon Package Can Lead to Federal Charges

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. After hours of shopping in stores and online, you find the perfect gift for your spouse on Amazon. You order the gift and, on the day of its anticipated delivery, you excit...

John J. Pappalardo Honored With Distinguished Service Award

On June 8, 2018, John J. Pappalardo – senior and founding partner of Pappalardo & Pappalardo, LLP – received the Honorable Richard J. Daronco Distinguished Service Award from the Columbian Lawyers...

Don’t Be Fooled by Phony Awards for Legal Excellence

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Have you visited a lawyer's website and thought, "Look at all of the awards he has earned! He must be a great lawyer!" He or she has badges from the American Academy of Tri...

Keeping In Touch With Imprisoned Loved Ones

While maintaining contact with a loved one in prison can be difficult and emotionally taxing, staying connected can make a huge difference in their life. Prisons are impersonal and can often strip ind...

New York’s Governor Issues Order to Restore Voting Rights to Parolees

Across the country, approximately 6 million people are disenfranchised because of a felony conviction. Strides are being made to change this, however, as it was recently announced that that New York's...