Monthly Archives: September 2019
Under New Criminal Justice Reforms, Some Convicted of Federal Crimes Argue for Compassionate Release
Since the First Step Act was passed, individuals sentenced to serve hundreds of years in prison for crimes such as money laundering have hoped that this national bipartisan movement towards criminal justice reform will allow them to apply for a program known as compassionate release due to their age and health issues. Who Qualifies?… Read More »
The Crackdown On Illegal Reentry: Who Is & Is Not Prosecuted?
According to the data collected, the current administration has cracked down on thousands of people and charged them with the federal crime of illegal reentry. However, the government has not prioritized prosecuting employers; some of whom arguably lure of those making their way back into the United States. Specifically, just from March of last… Read More »
Supreme Court Traffic Stop Case Could ‘Make or Break’ Our Fourth Amendment Rights
The US Supreme Court will soon hear a case that is going to be instrumental in preserving our Fourth Amendment rights when it comes to traffic stops. Specifically, the case involves the issue of whether police have “reasonable suspicion” to pull over a vehicle if the license plate corresponds with a car owner and… Read More »
New York’s ‘Raise the Age’ Law Is Working Better in Brooklyn Than Anywhere Else
According to statistics recently compiled by the state of New York, the “Raise the Age” law that passed which moves most 16-year-olds accused of crimes out of New York’s Criminal Court and into its Family Court has been accomplished more successfully in Brooklyn than anywhere else in New York. Specifically, these minors have been… Read More »
New York City’s DNA Database for Criminal Suspects: Is It Unconstitutional?
New York City’s collection of genetic data in a DNA database has long been controversial, especially as more and more police departments – including the New York City Police Department- increasingly rely on them. Just over the last two years, the database has grown by close to 30 percent to include more than 80,000… Read More »
New York Court of Appeals Weighs Whether Criminal Conviction Should Be Vacated Due To Juror Misconduct
In New York, a criminal defendant is supposed to be granted a new trial if there is evidence of misconduct on behalf of a juror that supports an argument for the verdict to be set aside; regardless of the juror’s intentions. But how do the courts decide whether there has been a significant amount… Read More »
The Drug Enforcement Administration Just Made an Announcement That Could Be the Beginning of Marijuana No Longer Being Classified as A Schedule I Drug
In August, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) made an incredibly important announcement concerning enabling additional clinical trials for marijuana. Although the announcement applies to research for medical marijuana, for reasons we discuss below, this could lead to marijuana no longer being classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. It is… Read More »
New York Starts The Process of Expunging Criminal Records for Low-Level Marijuana Crimes
While New York recently failed to legalize marijuana, state lawmakers were able to reach a compromise that decriminalized possession of a certain amount of the drug and allowed for criminal records to be sealed for those who had low level marijuana convictions. In late August, New York started the process of expunging a number… Read More »
