Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Gov. Wolf’s Proposal: Legalize Recreational Marijuana and Use the Proceeds to Fund Restorative Justice Efforts
Governors of Pennsylvania may only serve two terms, and Gov. Tom Wolf is currently serving his second one, so he is not eligible to seek reelection in 2022. Since he took office in 2015, the circumstances in which a person can be sentenced to jail or prison for cannabis possession have become fewer. The… Read More »
Some Counties in Western Pennsylvania Charge Inmates for Every Night That They Spend in Jail
Would you believe it if someone told you that your $1200 coronavirus stimulus check could pay for four months of room and board? In some cases, it can, but only if the accommodations are in a county jail. Is this the worst case of the criminal justice system punishing people for being poor? Is… Read More »
Hopewell Man Charged with Vehicular Homicide in Connection to DUI Crash
How much trouble can you get in for driving drunk? It depends on several factors. First, repeat DUI offenses get harsher punishments than first-time offenses. The case of Rose Ann Davidson, the Texas woman currently serving a life sentence for her sixth DUI conviction, despite that she has never caused an accident, is both… Read More »
Pittsburgh Woman Faces Child Endangerment Charges for Driving Drunk with Four Children in the Car
Before you bring a newborn baby home from the hospital, the hospital staff ensures that you have the infant safety seat installed properly in the car. Installing child car seats can be a source of anxiety for first-time parents; every time the child outgrows one seat, they must figure out how to configure the… Read More »
Cocaine or Clearasil? Field Drug Test Kits Can’t Tell the Difference
If you were a child in the 1980s, you probably owned a mood ring; maybe you bought it at a dollar store when one first opened in your town, or perhaps it was a party favor at a classmate’s birthday party. The rings claimed to change color to reflect your mood; in fact, the… Read More »
How to Stop Mugshot Shaming from Ruining Your Employment Prospects
Of all the scary thoughts that go through your mind when you get arrested for a non-violent crime, many of them relate to how the arrest will affect your chances for employment in the future if you get convicted. Long after you have completed your probation, community service, or jail time and paid your… Read More »
Johnstown Man Faces Federal Charges for Storage Unit Full of Illegal Drugs
In Pittsburgh and many other places in Pennsylvania, you will not face criminal charges for possession of small quantities of marijuana. In December 2015, the city council passed a resolution to decriminalize marijuana possession, as long as the amount in the person’s possession does not exceed 30 grams. Instead, if you have just enough… Read More »
Can You Face Criminal Penalties for Illegally Owning Wild Animals in Pennsylvania?
Not everyone fits neatly into the categories of dog person, cat person, or person who is creeped out by all species besides humans. Some people, if given the opportunity, will tell you that hedgehogs are man’s real best friend, some will tell you that rats are cuddlier than hamsters, and others prefer the companionship… Read More »
Discovery of Western Pennsylvania Woman’s Body in Refrigerator Leads to Criminal Charges
As Pennsylvania reopens in phases, the question remains as to how safe we actually are. The stay-at-home orders helped to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus to the point that the state government has deemed it safe to reopen some previously shuttered businesses in most Pennsylvania counties. Although the weeks of social distancing… Read More »
Drug Bust Uncovers Trafficking Operation Between Philadelphia and Indiana County
With most of the population of Pennsylvania staying at home until COVID-19 cases decrease, some types of crime, such as home burglaries and street corner drug sales, have become less frequent. This does not mean, however, that drug use and illegal drug trafficking have disappeared. Complex operations to transport drugs across Pennsylvania are still… Read More »
