Category Archives: Criminal
Private DNA Testing Company Applies for Forensic Identity Permit In New York, Raising Alarm
Transparency and accountability are ongoing issues when it comes to forensic evidence that is used to convict defendants. Now, one out of state company, Parabon, has put forth a proposal to test DNA in New York cases that could lead to very little oversight here in New York, potentially resulting in wrongful convictions and… Read More »
House Passes Bill to Make Animal Cruelty a Federal Crime Everywhere
In late October, the House of Representatives passed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act, making animal cruelty a federal offense. While there have long been state laws against animal cruelty, previously, federal law only covered certain issues, such as animal fighting and the distribution of crush videos. However, the new law makes a… Read More »
Is The Coming ‘Crackdown On Violent Crime’ Just A Witch Hunt Against Immigrants?
In late October, Attorney General William Barr announced that there would be a new initiative to fight violent crime. According to the announcement, the initiative is geared towards targeting gangs and drug traffickers in high crime cities and dangerous areas. The administration has also announced that one of the purposes of the initiative will… Read More »
The U.S. Supreme Court Will Revisit Constitutionality of Life Without the Possibility of Parole for Juveniles
The issue of juveniles serving life sentences without the possibility of parole has been a long-standing concern for civil rights advocates. Even though the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that imposing this type of sentencing on young criminal defendants is unconstitutional, and that juveniles already in prison for life without parole should be… Read More »
New York Closing Rikers Island: What’s Next for Those Convicted In New York?
Rikers has been called the prison (or rather, 10 city jails, to be exact) that “doesn’t leave you.” Rather, it is “everywhere, in some shape or form.” Reportedly, 90 percent of the inmates there are black or Hispanic, and many are there as a reaction to something in their life and more as a… Read More »
How Petit Larceny & Crimes of Poverty Are Treated In New York
The City recently did an important piece on crimes of poverty in New York. The most common crime of poverty here is shoplifting; i.e. people stealing food or other items typically valued at less than $1,000 (higher than $1,000 is usually considered grand larceny)–usually in order to eat or otherwise get by. Tens of… Read More »
US Supreme Court to Decide Whether States Can Eliminate Insanity Defense
There are several ‘blockbuster’ criminal cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in October; cases that will significantly determine the rights of criminal defendants during trial. One of those cases—Kahler v. Kansas—involves the question of whether a state can abolish the insanity defense, or whether this violates the eighth and/or 14th amendments to the U.S…. Read More »
Trial, Conviction & Sentencing of Police Officer Who Mistakenly Shot Legal Resident After Entering Wrong Apartment Highlights Power of Castle Doctrine
The nation closely watched the trial of Amber Guyger—the police officer who mistakenly thought that she was entering her apartment and, upon doing so, fatally shot the man who legally lived there, accidentally thinking that he was an intruder—during the month of October. The trial was unique in that, while a number of criminal… Read More »
Criminal Defense Attorneys Petition US Supreme Court to Hear Famous Adnan Syed Case for The Sake of Criminal Defendant Rights Everywhere
In late September, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed an amicus brief requesting that the Supreme Court review the criminal case of Adnan Syed, the subject of the famous podcast “Serial,” due to an issue that could affect criminal defendants all over the country. Specifically, the Court of Appeals ruled that Syed’s… 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 »
