In Pennsylvania, the law permits police officers and authorities to set up driving under the influence (DUI) checkpoints to stop drivers and check for intoxication. DUI checkpoints, also called sobriety checkpoints, mobile checkpoints, or roadblocks, are temporary and appear at locations at random. Knowing what to expect should you encounter a DUI checkpoint in Pennsylvania can help you remain calm… READ MORE
News & Blog
Is fraud a felony? Is fraud a felony? Well theft offenses, or fraud offenses, are what we often call crimes of dishonesty. They are graded and graded means how they’re punished is often based on how much money is allegedly stolen. Fraud in itself is most commonly graded as a felony offense. Generally speaking, any type of these offenses are… READ MORE
The Pennsylvania’s Protection from Abuse Act (PFA) is a statewide law that protects people from domestic violence and abuse. The PFA pertains specifically to family members and people within the household. Under the PFA, victims can file a legal Request for Protection from Abuse, which will protect the victim and his/her relatives from the perpetrator. The law prevents the abuser… READ MORE
Cybersecurity and digital crime have been hot-button topics in recent years. Large-scale attacks on personal information are becoming more commonplace, which has created the need for states to develop legislation regarding computer crime. Pennsylvania’s computer crimes statutes make many unauthorized activities involving computers illegal. Since technology evolves quickly, these laws adapt to reflect the latest changes in the digital world.… READ MORE
A domestic dispute can be scary. If you’re in an abusive relationship, you may have considered calling the police several times. There might be several things stopping you. Some of the most common reasons people don’t reach out to the police for help include: Fear of reprisal. Abusers will use many tactics to keep their victims in a relationship and… READ MORE
What is the definition of embezzlement? Many people ask, what is the definition of embezzlement? Well, embezzlement is effectively when someone is being accused of taking something of value from someone who they don’t have the liberty to take it from. Embezzlement is a theft-related offense. Most commonly an embezzlement offense would be a felony. In Pennsylvania when we’re looking… READ MORE
Domestic abuse is a serious charge that can affect your relationship with your children and your standing in the community. Unfortunately, false allegations of domestic abuse can and do happen. It may occur because a partner wants sole custody of the children or wants to prevent you from seeing them on a regular basis. Such an allegation can turn your… READ MORE
What is petty theft? A common question is, what is petty theft? Well, in Pennsylvania we think of petty theft as retail theft or shoplifting. Under Pennsylvania, the laws are written by the legislature, and they’re defined as retail theft, or shoplifting, and that’s almost what you’d expect. Whether it is something small like makeup or something bigger like an… READ MORE
What is the difference between battery and assault? A common question is, what is the difference between battery and assault? The simple answer in Pennsylvania is, there isn’t a difference. Generally speaking, in criminal law in the United States, a battery involves a touching. However, in Pennsylvania, with a simple assault or aggravated assault, the term battery is part of… READ MORE
What is the difference between burglary and robbery? So, what is the difference between burglary and robbery? A common question is, what’s burglary? What’s robbery? Are they connected? Well, they are both felony offenses, but they are different. For example, a burglary is when you break and enter into a property with the intent of causing a crime. In the… READ MORE