Although misdemeanor convictions aren't as serious as felonies, they still show up as part of a criminal record and can cause problems in certain aspects of your life, like not being able to get a professional license or the inability to get certain types of aid like...
Prepare for holiday DUI checkpoints
Accidents involving drinking and driving tend to increase during festive seasons. As we're in the midst of the holidays now, planned DUI checkpoints can result in arrests for drivers who have a few too many celebratory drinks. Get the facts about Pennsylvania DUI...
Understanding the concept of a citizen’s arrest
Under Pennsylvania law, a citizen's arrest is when a private individual makes or assists in the detainment of another person in a lawful arrest. Criminal law says the use of force is justifiable if law enforcement directed or summoned said person to make the arrest....
Types of criminal sentences
Pennsylvania and all other states have the authority to structure their statutes as the legislature sees fit, but they are structured similarly with respect to sentencing guidelines. Less serious crimes are classified as misdemeanors and only punishable by...
How does fingerprint evidence work?
"Dusting for fingerprints" might not be the only evidence collection process that police perform, but it is the one that most people are familiar with. Law enforcement personnel take great care to find fingerprints at a Pennsylvania crime scene because the recovered...
What are the differences between theft, burglary and robbery?
Some of the serious crimes that occur in Pennsylvania involve stealing someone else’s personal property. However, there are three chief types of these offenses, namely, theft, burglary, and robbery. It’s important to understand the differences. What is theft? Theft is...
Why is it dangerous to invest in a Ponzi scheme?
Placing your hard-earned money in an investment with the expectation of receiving your funds back and an additional high return can be enticing, especially if the results will be lucrative. Learning about this type of opportunity and investing should be considered and...
What constitutes a violation of Pennsylvania gun laws?
In Pennsylvania, it is important to understand the laws that regulate firearms. Issues such as what type of gun is illegal in any circumstance, who can and cannot own a gun, whether there is a gun license requirement and more are important to know about. These laws...
What are typical cybercrimes?
Not every criminal case in Pennsylvania involves face-to-face encounters. Mail and wire fraud could involve someone performing illegal activities from a remote location. The same may be true regarding cybercrimes. News reports about cybercrimes are increasing since so...
What do you know about the criminal expungement process?
Perhaps you made some poor decisions in your youth, or maybe you committed a college crime such as disorderly conduct, vandalism, alcohol-induced violence, drug possession or underage drinking under the influence. Either way, you want to put your criminal record...
