Westchester New York Criminal Defense Attorney Blog

Auto Thefts on the Rise in New York, Across the Country

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. It’s Monday morning, and you wake up to go to work. Before you leave the house, you grab the keys to your Hyundai. You expect to find where you left it last night – parked...

Artificial Intelligence Scams Are on the Rise

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Artificial intelligence (“AI”) refers to the technological ability of a machine or software to “think.” You may not realize it, but you likely use it almost every day. Did...

US Supreme Court to Consider Another Important Gun Rights Case

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In June, the US Supreme Court granted certiorari to hear the case of United States v. Rahimi. In reviewing the case, the Court will consider the constitutional right to pos...

DMV Proposes New Regulations Targeting Dangerous Drivers

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Dangerous drivers are on the roads every day. Whether it be drug- or alcohol-related, excessive speed, or carelessness, these drivers make the roads less safe for everyone....

Qualified Immunity – When Public Officials Are Sued

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Those who have been wronged by the state or its officials have the right to hold government officials accountable through civil lawsuits. Yet through case law, courts have...

Second-Hand Smoke: Marijuana Consumption in Public Places

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In 2021, New York legalized the possession of marijuana for recreational use. Similar to alcohol, the legislation also intended to keep the drug out of the hands of childre...

Use of Stun Belts by New York Corrections Officers

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Corrections officers provide a necessary service to manage those accused of or convicted of crimes who are in custody. To that end, officers may need to use various forms o...

Swatting May Become a Felony Offense in New York

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. When a false report of a crime is made, this can result in criminal charges against the reporting person. If a person makes a report intending to get a large police respons...

Use of Ballistics Evidence in Court Called Into Question

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. When a firearm is used in a crime, bullets and fragments can be left at the scene. For investigators, this can be a source of potentially identifying evidence. But can poli...

When Physicians Face Charges in NY Criminal Courts

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In New York, when a person becomes a physician, they get a license through the Department of State. There are many collateral consequences of an arrest or conviction, and f...

Phantom Vehicles: When a Car Has Counterfeit License Plates

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Recently in the news, there has been a lot of talk about “phantom vehicles” and “ghost cars.” These are motor vehicles that have either counterfeit license plates, or the p...

Actually Innocent: How Common Are Wrongful Convictions?

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Blackstone’s ratio is taught in many criminal law classes. Written by English jurist William Blackstone, the idea is that it is better that ten guilty persons go free than...