Category Archives: General
As Criminal Justice Reforms Make Headway In New York Starting January 1, Some Push Back
On January 1, critical criminal justice reforms here in New York went into effect and already changed a number of practices that affect criminal defendants every day. Most notably, prosecutors can no longer wait until the morning of jury selection to hand over evidence to the defense but must, instead, turn everything over within… Read More »
New York City’s Controversial Collection of Genetic Data & NYPD’s Use of The DNA Database
The New York Police Department (NYPD)’s reliance on the city’s DNA database has long been controversial: In just the last two years, the database has grown by close to 30 percent to include more than 80,000 people. It has also been criticized by a number of civil rights advocate activists, elected officials, and criminal… Read More »
New Jersey State Appeals Court Clears Lower Court’s Decision, Allowing Minor Rape Suspect to Be Charged as an Adult
In July, a New Jersey state appeals court overturned a state Superior Court’s decision not to try a 16-year-old boy accused of rape as an adult reportedly because the boy comes from a “good family” and is “destined for a good college.” The suspect is accused of raping another 16-year-old who was reportedly intoxicated… Read More »
New York City Cracks Down On Alleged Criminal Violations of Food Trucks & Ice Cream Vendors
New York City took strict retaliation actions against dozens of vendors and ice cream truck businesses, towing a number of them in early June after claiming that they owed millions in unpaid parking and traffic tickets. Specifically, the administration claims that, between 2009 and 2017, these trucks engaged in a number of criminal violations,… Read More »
New York & New Jersey Take Action to Legalize Marijuana In New York & New Jersey
Lawmakers at the New York State capital are currently undergoing negotiations concerning legislation to legalize a number of activities with respect marijuana throughout New York, including cultivation, consumption, distribution, sales, and taxation of the product. With only three weeks to go before the 2019 legislative session ends, and New York being the largest illegal… Read More »
New Jersey Decriminalizes Aid in Dying, But What Does It Cover, Exactly?
New Jersey recently decriminalized medical aid in dying, although the issue remains controversial for some, who are concerned that the legislation not mandating that family of the patient first be notified could end up introducing abuse into the system. The law—titled “Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act”—now makes New Jersey the 8th… Read More »
New Jersey Moves Closer To Decriminalizing Medically Assisted Suicide
In New Jersey, lawmakers are considering decriminalizing euthanasia for terminally ill patients. While similar legislation has previously been proposed and previously stalled in the Senate, in February, a Senate committee voted to approve this latest “medically assisted suicide bill” and many now expect it to pass in the full chamber. While a number of… Read More »
State Prosecutor Accuses DOJ of Blocking Investigation into Potential Police Misconduct
The state prosecutor is suing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) over what many suspect to be police misconduct and civil rights issues involving police officers (members of a fugitive task force) shooting 59 bullets into a schizophrenic college student. While the police claimed that they had a warrant to enter the victim’s residency… Read More »
New Jersey Firearms Law Could Lead NYPD Police to Be Arrested
Under a new law, New York officers could be arrested in New Jersey if they travel through the state of New Jersey, off-duty, with a high-capacity firearm magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds. However, legislation is pending which would allow officers to travel with the firearms between the two states, even while… Read More »
June Marks Major Step For Marijuana Legalization In New York
This week (June 18th), New York took important steps towards legalizing marijuana: The state health commissioner first recommended legalizing the drug. Mayor de Blasio then announced that the city would start handing out tickets to people smoking marijuana instead of arresting them. While the recreational use of marijuana in New York is still technically… Read More »