As of 2023, it is now legal for adults 21 and older to possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and up to 24 grams of concentrated cannabis for recreational use.  Yet there are still some ways that marijuana use can get you into trouble in Brooklyn.  Giving Marijuana to an Underage Person You may…

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Most criminal cases end in plea bargains. While other outcomes are often better, it’s impossible to deny that plea bargaining is woven into the fabric of our criminal justice system. Sometimes, they’re even a good thing.  You should never take a plea bargain without first speaking to a qualified criminal defense attorney. Nevertheless, we can…

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New York Penal Code § 120.14, New York Penal Code § 120.15, and New York Penal Code § 120.13 define the crime known as menacing. The crime describes several threatening or stalker-like behaviors which indicate you might be a threat to the victim. Menacing in the first degree is a felony. Menacing in the second…

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New York has five classes of felony. It is important to understand each class so you can understand the full severity of whatever crime you’re being charged with. The felonies are lettered: E through A. E is the least serious class of felony, and A is the most serious class.  Here’s what you need to…

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While a plea bargain should not necessarily be your front line strategy when accused of a criminal case, there are times when it’s going to be your best option.  Here are some times when it might be a good idea to take a plea bargain from a New York criminal prosecutor. Deferred Prosecution Agreement A…

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If you kept up with the hit podcast Serial some years ago then you’re familiar with Adnan Syed, accused of killing his girlfriend Hae Min Lee when he was just 17 years ago. Now, at 41, he is out of prison thanks to a prosecutor’s request to vacate his conviction. Adnan’s case was in Baltimore,…

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A recent report stated that hate crimes are up 76% here in the Brooklyn area, as well as in the rest of New York City.  Hate crimes are covered by New York Penal Code 486.05.  According to the code, a person commits a hate crime when: They intentionally select a target in whole or in…

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An electronic monitoring device isn’t exactly freedom—if you’re fitted for one, you’ll live under certain restrictions. It is, nevertheless, better than jail. And New York does use them. Here’s what you need to know about how New York uses electronic monitoring, when it is used, and whether it will be a viable alternative to jail…

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