When we warn that police officers might take an opportunity to plant evidence when given the chance, we aren’t just being alarmist. There are documented cases of police officers doing just that. Most recently, Brooklyn prosecutors have begun throwing out nearly 378 criminal convictions, mostly low level drug and traffic offenses, that relied on 13…

When police pull you over you should always refuse to consent to a search unless they have a warrant you do so. Consenting to a search waives your rights, and there is never a good reason to do so. For one thing, consenting to a search gives officers an opportunity to plant evidence in your…

Despite text message reminders, people still miss their court dates. Often, they even miss their court dates for good reason. Nevertheless, a missed court date can create additional problems.  Missing a court date for a criminal case is very serious. The judge will issue a bench warrant for your arrest. There’s a good chance you…

According to The New York Times, retail theft is on the rise. You can probably expect most of the places where you shop to be more vigilant about the possibility of shoplifting. Some stores are even getting rid of self-checkout devices because they are worried about shoplifting. What should you do if a security guard…

If you’re sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked car and you’re intoxicated, then there is a chance the police could arrest you and there is a chance you could receive a DUI or DWI conviction.  Any time your blood alcohol content (BAC) is over the legal limit you want to avoid sitting in…

NYC employers often require drug tests both prior to employment and during the course of employment.  There are other times you may be required to take a drug test as well, such as when you’re on probation, when you’re on parole, when you’re under investigation by CPS, or when you’re in the middle of a…

A Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) bracelet is an electronic monitoring device that checks blood alcohol levels. It reads the wearer’s perspiration and reports blood alcohol levels. They can also be fitted with GPS locators to keep defendants on house arrest.  SCRAM bracelets can be assigned to a defendant on a pre-trial basis as…

In any interaction with the police, it’s important to understand what is going on during every step of the process. In addition, at times the difference between a detention and an arrest can offer your attorney tools to use in your defense.  Here’s what you need to know.  Stopped and Questioned: Detained You are detained…

In 2019, New York altered its bail laws to ensure that Judges may only use bail as a tool to ensure that defendants return to court. The new laws even prevented judges from considering the potential harm a defendant might pose to others before setting bail. As a result, there was a dramatic drop in…