Hate crimes are on the rise and some New York City officials blame the increase on Trump.
READ MOREA Fifty-Year Fight For Exoneration In New York City
Fifty-years is a long time to wage a legal battle. It’s way too long when you’re the one fighting and you’ve been innocent the entire time.
READ MOREStrange And Unusual New York Criminal Laws & Statutes
New York may have more laws per capita than any other American nation. Not all of them make sense. Written decades ago with a valid purpose, the intent has gotten lost in the mists of time. Yet the laws remain on the books. Here are a few:
READ MORENew York Police Release Body Camera Footage of Bronx Shooting
The New York Police Department has released body camera footage related to the standoff between the police and Miguel Richards, a 31 year old exchange student from Jamaica. The police repeatedly asked Richards what he had in his hand and even warned him that they would shoot him. He did not respond to any of the verbal commands made by the officers. The officers, believing that he had a gun, fired a hail of 16 bullets.
READ MOREWill The Most Hated Man In America Be “Loved” In Prison
Fun and games for Martin Shkreli are over. It’s impossible to say what may happen to Shkreli but everyone knows it won’t be fun. The smug 34-year-old who jacked-up AIDS medicine, stole from investors and called Washington DC lawmakers “imbeciles” will be spending his days sharing his new residence with vermin, limited computer access, and […]
READ MORENew York Prosecutors Don’t Always Play By the Rules
Pushed by political dreams, ineptness or something else, prosecutors don’t always follow the rules. When they ignore accepted “best practices”, justice is delayed. A legal maxim says “justice delayed is justice denied.” Now, some state legislators are talking about changes which will make at least one scheme unavailable to prosecutors.
READ MORENew York Residents Get Warrants Dismissed
Arrested decades ago in New York and failed to show up in court? Breathe easier. Your warrant may be just one of hundreds of thousands being dismissed as Manhattan’s District Attorney reviews old cases and gives (some) people the chance at a do-over.
READ MORESelf-Defense With Everyday Objects
It’s not everyone someone may need to protect themselves with powder detergent, a rock or even a slipper, but it’s nice to know self-defense – in an emergency – can be supplemented with everyday objects found around the house.
READ MOREPossessing Marijuana While Black
On any given day, at least 135,000 men and women sit idle behind bars on simple drug possession charges. Nearly two-thirds of those are in local jails. Most have not been convicted of a crime. They’re in a cell, waiting for their day in court which may be months — or years — off since […]
READ MORERaising the Age Initiative
The New York Legislature has just passed the Raise the Age initiative. For decades, the issue was contentious and divisive. This act now provides significant protection to juvenile defendants. The key feature of this initiative is how the state will deal with 16 and 17-year-old defendants. Rather than send them to adult prisons they will […]
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