February 18, 2016
In 2014 the Compassionate Care Act was signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. This piece of legislation served to legalize the use of medical marijuana for New York citizens. However, the law was not passed without some limitations. New York’s medical marijuana program did not go into effect until January, 2016. While this has made many recreational users hopeful, medical cannabis users are unsatisfied with the current law. With Manhattan’s first medical marijuana dispensary […] Read On
February 15, 2016
What can be considered sexual assault in New York City? Sexual assault is a heinous crime. It is perpetrated on both men and women, the young and the old, people with sound minds and bodies and the physical or mentally challenged. In New York they take these charges very seriously. Not only do they have a large group of well-trained law enforcement and prosecutorial staff to deal with people accused of this type of offense, […] Read On
February 12, 2016
What is the difference between murder and homicide in New York? Murder and homicide are terms that are often used interchangeably. However, there is a marked difference between the two. What Is Homicide? Homicide is defined as the killing of one person by another. Murder, which falls under the category of homicide, is when the perpetrator intentionally kills the other person. Murder often includes a plan to kill an individual. In New York City homicide […] Read On
January 29, 2016
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office announced last week the indictment of 11 people on a variety of counts related to the alleged bilking of banks and their customers for a total of almost three quarters of a million dollars. How was the scheme accomplished? According to the D.A., the defendants operated across the country, traveling from New York to nine other states. Prosecutors claim that the group accomplished the thefts in the following way: They […] Read On
January 13, 2016
Mark Twain said “There are lies, damned lies and statistics.” Which brings us to the news reported late last month that New York City was as safe in terms of serious crimes as it has been in modern history. Nevertheless, there are those who complain that they feel less safe at this time, and others who attack the nature of the record-gathering. In order to understand what is going on, it’s necessary first to discuss […] Read On
December 29, 2015
Trials have been taking place for thousands of years. And ever since the first judges were appointed in the early 12th century, there has been a countless number of trials they have presided on. Some of these trials shaped the U.S legal system while some shaped America’s history. Some of these landmark court rulings are subject to debate to date. A good example is the Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka case of 1954 […] Read On
December 23, 2015
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that he will issue pardons in favor of thousands of convicted individuals. The announcement comes as a surprise to many, who view the governor as being particularly stingy when it comes to granting clemency to those convicted of criminal offenses. In fact, during his first three years in office, he granted only three pardons, all for relatively minor offenses. Compare that record with other states, and you will […] Read On
December 22, 2015
In a recent editorial, the New York Times has called for a reduction in sentences for those convicted of low-level drug offenses. The impetus for the proposal is two-fold: first, Congress has been wrestling with sentencing reform for some time, and potential changes may be in sight; second, the available statistics show that an immense amount of money and resources are currently being devoted to housing inmates in federal prison who pose no danger to […] Read On
December 8, 2015
It’s not often that the public gets a look inside the jury room. It’s even rarer when you are told some of the specific statements that are made during deliberations. The case was and is a very serious one. Keno Roberts, a black man, was charged with killing his stepson, who was three years old. He was arrested and was held without bail at Rikers Island for four years. Earlier this month, a jury acquitted […] Read On
December 4, 2015
The rise in violent crime has many people searching for causes. The issue is particularly important in New York City, where recent reports indicate a disturbing rise in a number of violent crimes. They include the following: Murder – Up by 8.3% over last year. Rape – Up by 5.8% over last year. Misdemeanor sex crimes – Up by 18% over last year. For those who follow the trends, these are some pretty significant statistics. […] Read On