Westchester New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Changes to New York Prison Care Package Policy

Recently, the New York correctional system has made some dramatic changes to the regulations for sending care packages to imprisoned loved ones. Before the recent policy change, care packages were all...

Not Guilty Verdict in Trial of Off-Duty NYPD Officer

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Angelo MacDonald secured a not guilty verdict on all counts for Pappalardo & Pappalardo client "C.H." The bench trial concluded on February 26, 2018 before the Hon. Ada...

Exploring the Fallibility of Testing DNA Evidence

For decades, forensic DNA evidence has been a useful tool in countless criminal investigations, both for incriminating and for exonerating suspects. Supporters of forensic DNA testing argue that teste...

New York Legislature to Consider Lowering BAC Threshold for DWI

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. One state assemblyman has proposed lowering New York’s threshold for misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated (“DWI”), citing a recent recommendation from the National Academi...

Sextortion and Revenge Porn: What You Need to Know About Possible Changes to the Law

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In his “State of the State” address in early January, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced his intention to make changes to the criminal justice system – including enac...

NY’s Governor to Push to Criminalize Revenge Porn, Provide More Discovery to Defense Attorneys

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Earlier this month during his “State of the State” address, Governor Andrew Cuomo detailed various efforts on his 2018 agenda that would impact the criminal justice system....

A Unique Re-entry Guide for Registrants on the Sex Offender Registry

“Sex offender” can be a very jarring term. Consequently, attention given to this term centers around the offense and the people who caused harm. However, people required to register on sex offender re...

Prison Visits in New York: What You Need to Know

Having a loved one serving a sentence in prison can be incredibly difficult, especially during times like the holiday season. Visiting your loved one can be very helpful to them during this time, and...

5 Reasons Why Employment for the Formerly Incarcerated Is Important

Re-entering the community after incarceration is much easier on paper than living with the challenges that continue to present themselves. Having a criminal record presents many difficulties when assi...

How to Prepare for an Arraignment and Understand Its Purpose

Getting arrested can be jarring and rather frightening. It is only the beginning of what can be a long, tiresome legal process. Because the arraignment is the first formal step in court proceedings of...

Pappalardo & Pappalardo Client Found “Not Guilty” of Top Counts in Homicide Case

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. On Tuesday, November 14, a jury in Westchester County Court acquitted Jason Myers of the intentional murder of his girlfriend Ashley McDuffie in August of 2016. The jury de...

New York’s Chief Judge Calls on Courts to Order Prosecutors to Turn Over Information Favorable to Defense

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. On November 7, 2017, New York’s Chief Judge Janet DiFiore directed all judges presiding over criminal matters to order prosecutors to turn over materially exculpatory evide...