When faced with academic difficulties, mental health issues, and peer pressure, the youth sometimes turn to illegal substances for relief. In Pennsylvania, it is a troubling reality that children as young as 12 are using drugs, with marijuana as the common culprit....
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Criminal Law
Underage alcohol-related offenses and their consequences
More and more young adults are drinking alcohol before turning 21. Many of them drink under this age limit due to curiosity, bad influences or peer pressure. In Pennsylvania, the law is clear: underage drinking is illegal. But drinking isn’t the only thing that can...
Doxing a public safety official is an assault crime
In this age of social media, it’s terrifyingly easy to ruin another person’s life through the Internet. One such approach is the act of “doxing,” which is slang for publicly releasing private information about individuals without their consent. While it can be a...
Which traffic violations most commonly result in charges?
Driving is a privilege that comes with responsibilities, and one of those responsibilities is adhering to traffic laws. Yet, sometimes due to mistakes and sometimes due to misunderstandings, motorists may find themselves facing traffic tickets due to traffic...
The legal implications of drug lab operations in Pennsylvania
Operating a drug lab in Pennsylvania is a serious offense with severe legal consequences that go far beyond those for simple drug possession. The state's stringent laws aim to deter the production and distribution of controlled substances. Drug labs are also dangerous...
What record types are eligible for expungement in Pennsylvania?
A criminal record can cause roadblocks when pursuing essential life endeavors, such as looking for new housing opportunities and getting a job. Individuals can experience these lasting effects long after fulfilling their legal obligations, making it difficult to move...
How well do self-defense claims hold up in court?
Pennsylvania prosecutors can file charges against people for a wide assortment of different behaviors. Certain criminal accusations carry worse penalties and more social stigma than others. For example, violent criminal charges have a tendency to lock people out of...
Signs of a sexual predator
People who later become sexual predators have their own distinct characteristics and life experiences that shape their behavior. However, there are a handful of general traits that sexual predators seem to share. What is a “sexual predator”? Simply put, a sexual...
When reckless use of paintball guns becomes an offense
Paintball is a sport that pits players against each other in a friendly shooting game, usually with different objectives involved. Players use paintball guns that – while harmless – can hit targets forcefully and leave huge paint marks. But while paintball guns aren’t...
How could repeat offenses affect my charges?
Recidivism is the legal term for when one person breaks the same type of law more than once. Those arrested once for a crime could end up prosecuted again for a similar offense in the future. And if that happens, the potential consequences they might face could...