It has been black letter law and a source of some frustration for judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys alike that when an individual is convicted of a Megan’s Law offense, as specified in 42 Pa.C.S.A. §9795.1, a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) assessment must be ordered and completed prior to sentencing. (For a more thorough review […]
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Steven Fairlie quoted by Reuters on the Jerry Sandusky case
Steven Fairlie was quoted by Reuters news service on the Jerry Sandusky case. Here is the link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/us-crime-coach-strategy-idUSTRE7BC2IR20111213
Jerry Sandusky Waives Preliminary Hearing and Then Vows to Fight for Four Quarters
Jerry Sandusky waived all charges to the next court level, the Pennsylvania trial court known as the Court of Common Pleas. This means that he gave up his right to contest the charges and the right to cross examine and thus test the accuracy of his accusers. This is frequently thought to be a sign […]
Pennsylvania sex offender residency restrictions don’t work
Everyone agrees with the goal of protecting children from Pennsylvania sex offenders, but enacting laws imposing residency restrictions on convicted sex offenders is not the way to go about it. The restrictions have proven to be ineffective, ambiguous, and a waste of resources. Here’s why: Convicted sex offenders are often forced to move to rural […]
Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Wrongful Convictions Calls For Safeguards To Protect Innocent Defendants
Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Wrongful Convictions Calls for Safeguards To Protect Innocent Defendants The Report of the Advisory Committee on Wrongful Convictions was finally published this week after years of research. Its findings and conclusions were based on several key principles. The first was that in order for citizens to have confidence in the justice […]
