Author Archives: Gary Gerson
Saliva tests for DUIs draw ire, controversy
Saliva tests for drunk driving may not be something that Pittsburgh residents are familiar with; but in other states, and even countries, saliva tests are used as a base piece of evidence to justify more comprehensive and concrete testing of a person’s blood alcohol content. Many people are skeptical of the science behind a… Read More »
Memories may not be as reliable as many people think
Last week, we wrote a post about the FBI ordering a review of a sample of cases that involved hair evidence. The convictions that came out of these cases were put under review to discover if the importance of hair evidence in a case is overstated — in other words, that prosecutors and jurors believe the… Read More »
Five-Year Prison Term for Armed Felons Proposed in Pennsylvania
After being convicted of a serious violent crime in Pennsylvania, offenders are prohibited from ever again owning a firearm. Even after release from prison and satisfactory completion of all other aspects of their punishment, these individuals can be criminally prosecuted simply for possession of a gun. But, some Pennsylvania lawmakers are saying that current… Read More »
Thousands of cases that used hair evidence under federal review
In our last post, we discussed the great potential of DNA evidence. It certainly sounds like the dawn of a new age for the criminal justice system. But just like any aspect of the system, there is a human element involved — and that means mistakes can be made and suspects can be wrongfully… Read More »
Teen arrested for alleged robberies outside Pittsburgh
A teenager has been arrested for allegedly robbing a man last Monday in Brentwood. The young man denies that he was involved, but police are also saying he is a suspect in other robbery cases that have happened in June. Police aren’t saying what evidence they might have the led them to this particular… Read More »
Domestic violence charges filed against rapper 50 Cent
Curtis Jackson, known to many people as 50 Cent, has been accused of domestic violence, stemming from an incident in late June. When police arrived at the scene, there were broken pieces of furniture and clothes were thrown on the floor. The victim of the incident was injured, she says, when Jackson kicked her…. Read More »
Man cleared of domestic violence after case dropped
While the following story is a little bit old and it did not occur here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there are a few critical points to it that people need to hear. CeaseFire, an organization that tries to quell gang violence and gun use, fired its director after he was accused of domestic violence by his wife…. Read More »
Sex Offenders Falling Through the Cracks?
A recent, small-sample study performed by the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported high rates of employees at both public and private schools who have convictions for sex-related crimes. No one employee group was singled out in the study, and researchers found people with records of inappropriate sexual conduct in all sorts of positions,… Read More »
Right to remain silent restricted by Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court has been in the news a lot recently, so one of their rulings has likely flown under the radar of many Pittsburgh residents. SCOTUS had to make a decision on a criminal’s right to remain silent — specifically, whether the right applies to someone before they are arrested. The Fifth… Read More »
After 24 years, DNA evidence clears man’s name in sex crime case
While the following story did not occur here in Pennsylvania, and though it focuses more on the divorce side of the story, there is a very important criminal defense angle in it that Pittsburgh residents will want to hear. In 1982, a man in Texas was embracing an exciting life. He had a wife,… Read More »
