Jonathan Blecher, P.A.

Alphabet Inc.’s Google is changing its Maps tool so that the company no longer has access to users' individual location histories, cutting off its ability to respond to law enforcement warrants that ask for data on everyone who was in the vicinity of a crime.

Google Will Stop Providing Law Enforcement Data on Which Users Were Near a Crime The company said location data will soon be saved directly on users’ devices, blocking Google from seeing it and, by extension, blocking law enforcement demanding that information.

A new report by the National Registry of Exonerations found 129 cases in which people were falsely convicted at least partly because of flawed hair analysis and testimony.

How the Junk Science of Hair Analysis Keeps People Behind Bars The technique, developed before DNA testing, can’t definitively tie suspects to crime scenes. Try explaining that to juries — or some judges.

Eyewitness testimony generally holds considerable sway in criminal investigations, often shaping the course of prosecutions. Nevertheless, it's important to recognize that these accounts may not always be accurate. If you're facing criminal allegations and aim to question the reliability of an eyewitness account, an experienced criminal defense attorney can review the circumstances and identify the best way to challenge testimony being used against you.

Cybercrime involves a wide range of criminal conduct that makes use of digital and network technologies. This includes identity theft, financial fraud and personal data breach. Technology can also be employed to carry out drug crime, prostitution, child po*******hy and extortion. Federal and state laws enacted to fight cybercrime are being zealously enforced by prosecutors, aided by electronic surveillance and undercover operations. A criminal defense attorney can explain your possible exposure to investigation.

All states and the federal government criminalize the knowing receipt of stolen property. Penalties vary based on the specific statute and severity is often tied to the value of the stolen goods involved. If you are being charged with receiving or possessing stolen property, consult with an attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.

Facing criminal charges can be overwhelming. Let the attorneys at Jonathan Blecher, P.A. safeguard your fundamental rights and advise you on potential defense strategies based on the facts in your case. Visit our website for more information. https://www.jonathanblecher.com/

Typically, when you serve a period of supervised release, you must meet with your parole officer periodically, and abide by the conditions of your release. If you do not, your parole could be revoked, which means you would return to prison.

The Supreme Court heard arguments over which drug offenses trigger mandatory 15-year sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act, which is a kind of federal three-strikes law. The law imposes the mandatory sentences on people convicted of unlawfully possessing fi****ms if they had already committed three violent felonies or serious drug offenses.

Justices Search for Middle Ground on Mandatory Sentences for Gun Crimes A federal law imposes a mandatory 15-year sentence for possessing a gun after committing three serious drug offenses. But which offenses count?

Under normal circumstances, police may enter your home without your permission only if they have a warrant.

Before a criminal case goes to trial, the prosecutor and the defense have the opportunity to make pretrial motions. These motions can affect many issues at trial, from what evidence can be introduced to which charges will be tried. An experienced attorney can suggest which motions could be useful to your case and file them on your behalf.

White-collar crime describes crimes that relate to money. White-collar crimes are generally non-violent, committed for financial gain or to retain money already owned in the case of money laundering or tax evasion. These crimes are usually investigated and prosecuted on a federal level since most white-collar crime operations cross state lines.

White-collar crime: Non-violent crimes committed for financial gain White-collar crimes encompass a broad range of crimes, usually non-violent, committed for financial gain.

If you are convicted of a s*x offense in any U.S. state, your name will be placed on a s*x offender registry — a public database that impacts your civil liberties, such as where you can live and work. How long you must stay on the registry varies state to state and depends on several factors. Your criminal defense attorney must be keenly aware of how the local registry law applies in your case.

Finding employment remains difficult for individuals with criminal records despite a tight job market and millions of job openings.

Amid millions of open jobs, finding work remains a struggle with a criminal record While employers have indicated they are more willing to hire workers with criminal records in a tight labor market, job seekers say they face a tangle of barriers to getting work.

A recent court ruling in Colorado highlighted how Google’s tracking of our locations and web searches helps police find suspects when they have few leads — but it’s also sweeping innocent people into investigations.

Police love Google’s surveillance data. Here’s how to protect yourself. Novel ways of using Google’s search and location data are helping police. But privacy advocates say it’s violating Americans’ constitutional rights.

Not every prison sentence is served entirely behind bars. If you are granted parole, you are released from prison early, but remain under supervision for the rest of your sentence. During this time, you must abide by the conditions of your parole, or risk going back to prison. Not everyone is eligible for parole, and being granted parole is not guaranteed. If you have questions about the parole laws in your state, consider speaking with an attorney.

The Fifth Amendment’s double jeopardy clause prevents defendants from being put on trial more than once for the same offense. A key exception is that separate sovereigns can prosecute defendants for the same criminal acts. For example, if a person commits a single act that violates both federal and state laws, they could face trial in both federal and state courts.

Field sobriety tests are tests used by police to determine if a driver is impaired. While you have a right to refuse a field sobriety test or breathalyzer test, the state also has a right to penalize you for doing so.

Field Sobriety Tests to Assess Drunk Driving A sobriety test, also known as a field sobriety test, is used by police to determine if a driver is impaired. Learn which field sobriety tests are often used.

Most criminal systems in the US divide their crimes into different categories according to the seriousness of the offense. Felonies are the most serious classification of crimes, and may be punishable by prison sentences of a year or longer. A misdemeanor, however, is usually a crime with a jail sentence of a year or less.

Wire fraud is a federal crime that can land someone in prison for a maximum 20-year sentence in addition to fines. The statute of limitations on wire fraud is typically five years unless the wire fraud was associated with a financial institution, in which case prosecutors have 10 years to bring legal proceedings to the defendant.

Wire fraud is any electronic communication for the purpose of fraudulent activity Wire fraud describes any fraudulent activity that takes place over telecommunication or the internet.

Law enforcement all over the US are increasingly using tools called reverse search warrants – including geofence location warrants and keyword search warrants – to come up with a list of suspects who may have committed particular crimes.

TechScape: How police use location and search data to find suspects – and not always the right ones In this week’s newsletter: ‘Geofence warrants’ tied a man in the wrong place at the wrong time to a crime he didn’t commit – is he the only one?

In recent years, prisoners and their lawyers have challenged a number of forensic disciplines: from hypnosis to roadside drug tests to testimony about blood splatter, hair, photographs, burn patterns, bite marks, tire tracks and speech patterns. Since the 1980s, nearly a quarter of overturned convictions have featured “false or misleading forensic evidence,” according to the National Registry of Exonerations, a collaboration of several universities that tracks such cases.

How a Dubious ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’ Case Sent a Man to Death Row A Texas man faces ex*****on for his daughter's death. Now science suggests it was an accident.

Federal courts across the country disagree about whether the word, "and" as it is used in a bipartisan 2018 criminal justice overhaul, indeed means "and" or whether it means "or." The Supreme Court has stepped in to settle the dispute. What the justices decide could affect thousands of prison sentences each year.

Supreme Court's interpretation of the word "and" could affect thousands of prison sentences each year Nearly 6,000 people convicted of drug trafficking in the 2021 budget year alone are in the pool of those who might be eligible for reduced sentences, according to data.

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, remember you have important rights, including the right to remain silent, the right to have an attorney present at questioning, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches.

Leaving prison can be more of a challenge than many people realize. The good news is that there are more programs and options than ever before to help secure housing after incarceration.

Securing Housing After Incarceration | Bankrate Arguably, the most significant priority upon release from prison is a safe place to stay. Finding a place to lay your head may not be so easy, though, when you have a criminal record. Thankfully, several resources help you take that first step toward a normal life by providing safe, secure, and affo...

A federal appeals court has refused to disturb a panel opinion upholding a ban on gun possession by felons, creating a circuit split.

8th Circuit decision upholding felon gun ban quickens path to Supreme Court, lawyer says A federal appeals court has refused to disturb a panel opinion upholding a ban on gun possession by felons, creating a circuit split.

Penalties for drug offenses vary - from prison time to no conviction at all. The punishment a defendant receives can depend on many factors, including the charge, the drug in question, and the quantity of drugs. A strong defense from an experienced criminal attorney can help you protect your rights and mitigate the severity of drug penalties.

Federal and state laws prohibit “hate crimes” — offenses motivated in part by a victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, s*xual orientation, gender identity or disability. When an assault or other offense is designated a hate crime, potential jail terms and other penalties can be significantly increased.

More than half of U.S. states have decriminalized possession of small quantities of ma*****na and other cannabis-containing substances. These laws range from legalizing small-amount possession to making it a low-grade misdemeanor with no jail time. However, certain states still impose serious penalties. To be sure, consult a lawyer in your state.

Some forms of dementia can trigger behaviors that society classifies as criminal, and portion of older individuals who commit crimes because a neurodegenerative disorder has warped their sense of acceptable behavior can end up incarcerated.

What Happens when People with Dementia Commit Crimes? When criminal behavior overlaps with degenerative cognitive disease, the justice system often falters

Sometimes, life can take a bad turn. You’ve been arrested, arraigned, and are now set to stand trial. Fortunately, whether you are guilty or not, the U.S. criminal justice system offers you several constitutional protections.

Know Your Constitutional Rights in the US Criminal Justice System You've been arrested and set to stand trial. Fortunately, the US criminal justice system offers you several constitutional protections.