These unjust oddities in Pennsylvania state legislation were documented by a research group comprised of law students. University of Pennsylvania law professor Paul Robinson conducted a project this fall where his students had to determine whether criminal legislation was written properly. The findings of their investigation shocked many, including state Senator Stewart Greenleaf. “It’s more than inconsistent, it’s unfair” the senator commented.

The UPenn law students discovered many examples of individuals who had committed severe crimes receiving incredibly light sentences, while there were instances of lesser violations being punished very harshly. Professor Robinson places the blame upon “aggressive politics,” maintaining that prosecutors want to appear tough on the latest large-scale media scandal.

The last time that the State of Pennsylvania seriously updated its legislation was in 1972. In that year it clarified and organized its criminal laws. However, since then criminal code has more than doubled in size reaching a total 636 offenses and suboffenses. In addition, 1,648 new sections have been added to state law just regarding definitions of criminal offenses.

Professor Robinson’s students also conducted a poll that demonstrated how greatly Pennsylvania law differs with public opinion. One hundred and thirty one residents were surveyed from across the state, comparing the punishments for a variety of offenses. In a majority of the cases, the law was far tougher than public opinion:

• According to state law, keeping an adult captive against his or her will is considered a first degree misdemeanor offense, and is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison. However, Pennsylvania residents considered it to be a first degree felony, and should be punished by a maximum of twenty years in prison.
• Pennsylvania law sets the maximum sentence for selling a bootlegged Beatles CD as five years in jail. A great majority of those interviewed believed such a crime deserved a maximum punishment of ninety days in jail.
• Reading someone’s email is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Again, Pennsylvania residents felt that it was worth no more than ninety days.

In December 2009, the law students presented their findings to the state Senate and House Judiciary Committees. Additionally, legislation has since been proposed that reorganizes state criminal law, with serious emphasis on evaluating the severity of punishments. The students reinforced the idea that laws should not be written too broadly — otherwise, the gap between the public’s opinion of the appropriate punishment and the state’s criminal code provisions will continue to grow.

Being accused of criminal charges is a difficult process for anyone to go through. As seen in Pennsylvania, the punishments for a violation may not necessarily fit the crime. Therefore, it is essential to contact a hard-working DC criminal attorney for assistance. Conviction of criminal charges can have life-changing consequences, including the loss of driving privileges, fines, and/or jail time. To ensure that your case receives the best legal defense possible, it is vital to obtain an experienced and aggressive DC criminal lawyer immediately.

The gun exchange program began five years ago in Compton. Los Angeles began the program this summer collecting over 1,700 weapons from the streets. Additionally, law enforcement officials have begun collecting narcotics, prescriptions, and needles at drop-off type mailboxes in an effort to keep drugs off the streets. Total, authorities have collected approximately 800 pounds of prescription medications and over 6,000 needles at various drop-off boxes.

With no questions asked, handguns, rifles, and shotguns were collected in exchange for gift cards to major retailers such as Target, Ralph’s, or Food 4 Less. Depending on the type of gun and the quantity, gift cards ranged in amount from $50 to $200. In 2009, the Los Angeles County gun-exchange program collected 5,337 weapons, including 144 assault rifles. In Ralph’s market in Compton this past week,  281 guns were collected. In fact, one man dropped off 58 firearms, most of which were small-caliber firearms.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has made gun exchange programs a staple throughout the year, as officials believe that it has made a difference in California communities. Guns that are collected are eventually turned into scrap metal, and recycled into reinforcing beams used in construction projects. According to sheriff Lee Barça, the rebar is used to build schools and other places to help the local communities.

Being accused of weapon possession is a disheartening experience for anyone to go through. An experienced DC criminal lawyer can help guide the charged through the legal process, providing answers to all possible questions. Conviction of weapon charges can have life-changing consequences including fines and/or jail time. To prevent this from happening, contact a hard-working DC criminal attorney or DC criminal lawyer immediately for representation.

The twenty-three year-old son of a former chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria was charged with violating Title eighteen of the U.S. Code, Section thirty-two–destruction of an aircraft or aircraft facilities and willful attempts to do so. The suspect boarded the plane headed to Detroit from the Netherlands on Christmas Eve with an explosive device attached to his body. According to testimony from other passengers and crew, Abdulmutallab spent roughly twenty minutes in the bathroom towards the end of the flight. When he returned to his seat, he complained of stomach problems and put a blanket over himself. As the plane began to approach Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Abdulmutallab set off the device, which resulted in a fire. After being restrained by both passengers and crew he was taken into custody by Customs and Border Patrol officers.

A preliminary analysis by the Federal Bureau of investigation found that the device contained PETN, or pentaerythritol, which is highly explosive. Additionally, investigators have recovered the remains of a syringe found near Abdulmutallab’s seat–allegedly also a part of the explosive. It is believed that he obtained the device, as long as deployment instructions in Yemen.   Therefore, there was “probable cause to believe that Abdulmutallab wilfully attempted to destroy or wreck an aircraft within the special jurisdiction of the United States.”

Although the suspect had a record in the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, he was not on the no-fly list due to a lack of evidence against him. The White House believes that this act of terrorism was in cooperation with al-Qaeda, however this has yet to be confirmed.

Facing felony criminal charges is a difficult and complicated process. A DC criminal lawyer can help provide answers to the questions that such an individual would undoubtably have. Conviction of  felony charges can be life-changing and result the loss of personal and social freedoms, as well as jail time. Seeking legal advice from a hard-working and experienced DC criminal attorney or DC criminal lawyer can help prevent these consequences from happening to you. Do not hesitate to contact legal counsel immediately.