Prisoners Issues Archives - Pappalardo & Pappalardo LLP

Opinion: Fourth Amendment Waivers Are Unconscionable

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. Protecting the consti...

Are HIV Criminalization Laws Outdated and Discriminatory?

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In 1981, doctors first observed Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV), the virus which causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Over the next two decades, HIV- and...

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...

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...

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...

Opinion: New Report on Discovery Reform is Just Propaganda

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. Last week,...

Predicate Felony Sentencing in New York Criminal Courts

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. When it comes to sentencing, a person’s criminal history matters. If a person has prior convictions – whether for violations, misdemeanors, or felonies – the prosecutor and...

Voting in New York With a Felony Record

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. When a person has lost the right to vote, this is called “disenfranchisement.” In the United States, an estimated 4.6 million citizens are barred from voting due to a felon...

Incarcerated Parent – The Impacts on Child Custody and Support

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Each year, tens of thousands of New Yorkers spend time in jail or in prison. In 2018, that number was 91,000 – that’s about 376 per 100,000 people. Somewhere between 55% an...

Bail Laws Revised in New York’s 2022-2023 Budget

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. It’s been all over the news – New York has changed its bail laws yet again. In addition to bail, there were also other new laws and other revisions. These were included as...

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