Westchester New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

“Rape is Rape”: New Rape Laws Coming to New York

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In January, the Governor signed new legislation, which updates the definition of rape under New York State law. Pursuant to the new rape laws, penetration will no longer be...

Suspicious Activity Reports – When Banks Act Like Cops

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Follow the money. In today’s world, one way to uncover criminal activity is to trace financial transactions. Under the federal Bank Secrecy Act, financial institutions are...

The Equality Model – New Prostitution Laws May Be Coming to the US

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In most places in the US, prostitution and patronizing a sex worker are crimes that can carry serious penalties, including jail and prison. Back in 2021, we posted a blog a...

Cyber Kidnapping Is a Growing Crime Trend Across the Country

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Under the law, kidnapping is taking a person and holding them captive against their will. In New York, kidnapping is a very serious offense. But now, this type of offense h...

Kratom: The New Herbal Drug That May Be Dangerous

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Kratom is an herbal substance that has been around for many, many years - since the 1800s. More recently, it has become a popular drug for various reasons, including for re...

Self Defense – Using a Justification Defense in NY Court

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. If someone attempts to hurt you, you have a right to protect yourself. However, the use of force in response to another’s illegal use of force is not unqualified. Under New...

Counterfeit Goods Can Lead to State and Federal Charges

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. One may hear the stories – if you go down to Canal Street in New York City, you can find designer goods for cheap prices. However, most New Yorkers know that many of those...

New York’s Clean Slate Act Has Been Signed into Law

PLEASE NOTE: Our office has received a number of calls regarding the Clean Slate Act. The law is not yet in effect. While the Clean Slate Act has been signed into law, it will not go into effect until...

Understanding the Mental Health Courts in NYS

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In recognition that some of those involved in the criminal legal system have specific needs, New York has several problem-solving courts. These courts provide special servi...

NYS Announces New Judicial Task Force on Mental Illness

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. New York has had mental health courts for more than two decades. In this type of treatment court, individuals living with mental illness can be linking with court-supervise...

New NYS Guidelines for Cops Responding to Domestic Incidents

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. On October 24, New York released new guidelines for law enforcement when responding to domestic incidents. Additionally, the state has provided additional funding to expand...

FBI Crime Data for 2022 Shows National Decrease in Violent Crime

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Each October, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) releases crime statistics from the previous year. For 2022, the picture is somewhat mixed. While violent crime has...