If you are struggling with drunk driving charges, it is important to understand the many ways in which these allegations can affect your life (and your loved ones' lives). Aside from losing driving privileges, paying fines and spending time behind bars, some people...
Year: 2020
Breaking down Pennsylvania’s self-defense law
It should not be unreasonable to expect understanding when you encounter a situation where you feel forced to defend yourself (or those you love). Yet even with this general understanding, many people in Pennsylvania view claims of self-defense with a great deal of...
Can you get a nursing license after Pennsylvania DUI?
If you have past criminal convictions related to drugs or alcohol, you may worry about your ability to obtain or renew your Pennsylvania nursing license. However, you may be able to successfully appeal this decision if you have completed a substance use treatment...
Pennsylvania’s child endangerment drunk driving laws
Several factors put a child at risk for serious bodily injury or death when in a vehicle with a drunk driver. The most obvious is that the drink driver cannot safely operate a vehicle. Not so obvious, however, is the fact that many impaired parents or guardians fail...
A drug conviction may ruin your college budget
From incarceration to steep fines, Pennsylvania has some serious penalties for drug-related offenses. If you have a conviction for possessing or selling a controlled substance, you are also vulnerable to certain collateral consequences. Difficulty paying for higher...
What level of offense is “disorderly conduct” in Pennsylvania?
Disorderly conduct is the type of charge people associate with teenagers who play their music too loudly or who cause a raucous in public. Because of this perception, not many people take disorderly conduct charges seriously. They should, though, as a disorderly...
Are private prisons problematic?
Private prisons are those owned by a corporation instead of the federal or state governments running them. Privatizing the prison system was something that happened as a result of overcrowding and underfunding issues. According to the Justice Policy Institute, the...
Pennsylvania’s aggravated DUI laws bring severe penalties
Anyone facing a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) in Pennsylvania faces an uphill battle. Pennsylvania lawmakers penalize DUI offenders with probationary driving periods and high fines. Multiple offenders face increased penalties, including mandatory jail...
Qualifying for Adult Treatment Court
Some drug and alcohol offenders in Pennsylvania may qualify for the voluntary Adult Treatment Court program in Cumberland County. Founded in 2006, this diversion program allows individuals struggling with substance use to pursue treatment while addressing their legal...
What are collateral consequences?
If you receive a conviction for a violent crime, you may experience collateral consequences. You need to know what these consequences are and how they can affect your life. According to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, collateral consequences are...