Criminal Law FAQs Blog | Criminal Attorney in Philadelphia

Posted By Timothy Tarpey 29-Sep-2016

How Can a Criminal Conviction Affect Your Life?

Aside from the almost unimaginable death penalty, when most people think of the legal punishment for a criminal conviction, they think of prison. However, even when a person avoids serving time in prison for a criminal offense, there are still ...

Posted By Michael Parkinson 17-Sep-2013

How Can I Defend Against False Allegations of Domestic Violence or Abuse?

Allegations of domestic violence are more common than most people would imagine. For example, in one year there were 108,525 calls to the Philadelphia Police Department regarding domestic violence and 6,256 domestic violence-related arrests. ...

Posted By James Lloyd 10-Jun-2013

Forfeiture, Policing for Profit - Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judge recently called the state's civil forfeiture law "state-sanctioned theft" and ordered a lower court to review a recent forfeiture case involving a seized gas station. This decision has serious ...

Posted By James Lloyd 9-Apr-2013

ARD and AMP - Pennsylvania

ARD stands for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. It is an alternative sentencing program offered by the state of Pennsylvania that may be available in criminal cases involving relatively minor offenses or people who are considered first-time ...

Posted By Timothy Tarpey 9-Feb-2013

When Can a Person Claim Self Defense Under Pennsylvania’s Stand Your Ground Law?

This week a small business owner in Northeast Philadelphia received a lot of attention when he shot and killed a robber. According to reports, a 19 year-old entered a deli in Northeast Philadelphia, pulled a gun, and ordered the woman working at the ...

Posted By Timothy Tarpey 2-Feb-2013

Pennsylvania State Police Stop Using Breathalyzers … But This Could Lead to More DUI Arrests

From now on, if the Pennsylvania State Police suspect someone of driving under the influence (DUI) , the state police will NOT be giving those suspects Breathalyzer tests anymore. Instead, the state police will be taking boold samples from the ...

Posted By Michael Parkinson 31-Jan-2013

Can a Child Under 18 Be Sent to Adult Prison In Pennsylvania for a First Offense?

As a lawyer who handles the defense of juveniles facing criminal charges, one question I am frequently asked is whether a child under 18 years old be sent to adult prison or given an adult criminal record in Pennsylvania for a first offense ? The ...

Posted By Michael Parkinson 24-Jan-2013

What Is the Difference Between Simple Assault and Aggravated Assault in Pennsylvania?

A question I am asked often is, “What Is the Difference Between Simple Assault and Aggravated Assault in Pennsylvania?” In Pennsylvania, assault is one of the most frequently charged crimes. When most people hear the term ...

Posted By Timothy Tarpey 1-Dec-2012

One Mistake Can Lead to 10 Criminal Charges or More

Most people accused of a crimes don't understand the charges facing them. On TV, an alleged criminal is charged with one crime such as theft or rape. When you hear about other people charged with a crime, you usually only hear about one ...

Posted By Michael Parkinson 12-Nov-2012

Can a petition for early parole or to lift a detainer get someone out of jail?

Incarceration rates are at a record high and, unfortunately, many people have loved ones and family members in jail, either serving sentences or awaiting trial. While it may be impossible to have that person be home for the holidays in some ...

Posted By Timothy Tarpey 7-Nov-2012

What is the difference between a bench warrant, arrest warrant, and search warrant?

We receive a lot of phone calls from people who have questions about ”warrants.” Many of the people we help are confused because there are many different types of warrants. Five different types of warrants that people ask us about often ...

Posted By Michael Parkinson 27-Oct-2012

The Penalty for Driving with a Suspended License in PA is Mandatory Jail Time in Many Cases

Many people know that a conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) carries mandatory jail time in many cases. For instance, someone who drives with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level between.08% and.10% is guilty of DUI in Pennsylvania. If it ...

Posted By Timothy Tarpey 13-Sep-2012

Did You Know That You Can Lose Your Financial Aid for College if You Are Convicted of a Drug Offense?

It's true... and a judge, prosecutor, police officer, and even your own defense attorney probably won't tell you before you are found guilty of a drug offense. Yet it is something every college student, or future college student, should know. ...

Posted By Timothy Tarpey 1-Sep-2012

What Should I Do If I Am Pulled Over for DUI in Pennsylvania?

A DUI or DWI conviction and the corresponding penalties can have a profound negative impact on a person’s life and the lives of those that they care about. The best, and most obvious, way to avoid a DUI conviction is to simply not drink and ...

Posted By Michael Parkinson 2-Aug-2012

Can a Forfeiture Case Help Keep You Out of Jail?

When you are accused of a crime, prosecutors will file criminal charges against you. In a criminal case you have certain constitutional protections and the State must prove every single element of a criminal case "beyond a reasonable ...

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