West Chester Criminal Defense Blog

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | November 29, 2019 | ARD

The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program in Pennsylvania offers non-violent first-time offenders an option for expungement of the charges brought against them upon successful completion of rehabilitation and supervision. The idea is to find defendants that are good candidates for rehabilitation and treatment and speed… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | November 25, 2019 | Sexual Assault

In Pennsylvania, people who are convicted of certain types of sex offenses are required to register as sex offenders. The state’s registration laws divide sex offenders into three categories based on the risk of re-offending as determined by a sex offender evaluation that people must… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | November 23, 2019 | Criminal Defense

The burden of proof is an important concept that appears in criminal and personal injury cases. It refers to which party must bring evidence in support of their contentions. Generally speaking, the party bringing the lawsuit (the plaintiff) has the initial burden of proof; this… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | November 22, 2019 | DUI

If you are facing DUI charges, then you need to consider whether you want to represent yourself or obtain legal representation. While you can represent yourself in court as a right, you also have a right to representation by a public defender appointed to you… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | November 19, 2019 | Aggravated Assault

Being arrested and charged for a crime can negatively impact your future more than you think, effecting your personal life and limiting your opportunities professionally. Even in cases where charges were ultimately dismissed, your public record will still reflect the charges that you were arrested… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 31, 2019 | Personal Injury

Hazardous conditions on a property can sometimes occur without warning. For example, a sinkhole could suddenly open and cause an accident without the property owner knowing about the potential danger. In other cases, property owners may be aware of a danger and choose to ignore… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 28, 2019 | DUI

In many cases in Pennsylvania, drivers who are charged with DUIs first realize that they are about to be arrested when police officers turn on their flashing lights to pull them over. The police officers may have pulled them over because they were weaving or… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 25, 2019 | Personal Injury

No matter what type of accident you might have had in which you were injured because of the actions of another person or entity, you might be considering filing a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania. If you decide to file a claim in the civil… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 23, 2019 | Parole Violation

If you receive a probationary sentence or are released from prison on parole in Pennsylvania, you will be able to be home with your family and to work instead of spending time behind bars. However, you will have to comply with all of the conditions… read more

ekatherine.stamatis@lawrank.com | October 21, 2019 | DUI

Driving under the Influence charges are among the most common types of criminal offenses in Pennsylvania. While everyone makes mistakes, a DUI charge is not something that can be solved by paying a traffic citation and continuing on your way. Instead, a DUI charge is… read more