Opinion: Why We Needed Bail Reform
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. The views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the writer only. They are not necessarily the views of the law firm or any of its attorneys. Beginning J...
Controlled Calls and Their Use by Police in Investigating Crimes
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. A man and a woman meet – either in a bar, through a friend, or on a dating app. After a couple of dates, the man and woman engage in sexual intercourse. But afterwards, the...
Carfentanil – An Opioid More Dangerous Than Fentanyl
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. The news about the country’s opioid epidemic is not new. Every day, Americans are dying from drug overdoses, with opioids being the biggest culprit. Over the past several y...
Discovery Changes in New York – Repealing New York’s “Blindfold Law”
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Discovery is the process by which a criminal defendant learns about the evidence in the prosecution’s case. This includes reports, witness statements, and physical evidence...
CBD and the Cannabis Plant – What’s Legal, and What’s Not
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. It can relieve anxiety and depression. It helps you sleep. It’s sold in oils, sprays, and even lollipops. CBD, a chemical derived from the cannabis plant, seems to be every...
Did New York’s Bail Reforms Go Too Far?
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. New York’s criminal justice system will soon undergo dramatic changes. As detailed in our two recent blogs, beginning January 1, 2020, there will be many changes. One su...
Can Your Criminal History “Rap Sheet” Be Wrong?
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Can you rap sheet be wrong? The short answer is "yes." And if it is incorrect, it could impact you dramatically. For example, you could lose job opportunities or be denied...
New York’s ‘Red Flag’ Law: Extreme Risk Protection Orders to Remove Guns
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In August of 2019, New York’s “red flag” law went into effect. The law allows a court to issue an Extreme Risk Protection Order (“ERPO”). An ERPO prevents those who show si...
Additional ‘Raise the Age’ Changes In Effect As of October 1
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In New York, crimes committed by juvenile offenders account for about 20% of all arrests. Two years ago, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation approving reform known as...
Assault of a Police Officer – a Serious Felony Offense in New York
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Police officers protect our communities. While doing their job, they can become injured – sometimes because of the actions of those they are trying to arrest. And when a de...
Wrongful Conviction Film Shows Effects of Fabricated Charges
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In August of 2019, the film Brian Banks was released. It portrays the true story of Brian Banks, whose wrongful conviction nearly destroyed his dream of playing in the NFL....
You Received an Appearance Ticket or DAT – Now What?
By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. An appearance ticket or DAT (Desk Appearance Ticket) is a summons issued by a police officer to appear in criminal court. If you’ve received an appearance ticket or have be...