General

Centre County DA Loses Another Appeal in Megan’s Law Case

In December of 2012, a law known as SORNA became effective and modified the reporting requirements under what is commonly referred to as Megan’s Law. Megan’s Law set forth an exhaustive list of offenses that required any person convicted of or having pleaded guilty to such an offense to provide information to the Pennsylvania State… view more

Man Cannot Wait for Bar to Open, Breaks in and Takes Seat at Table

A man couldn’t wait for a McKean County bar to open, so he decided to let himself in through a window. The bar owner had noticed the man wandering around the establishment and had contacted police, but by the time law enforcement arrived, the man had already entered the bar and passed out at a… view more

Westmoreland County Creates Drug Court to Combat Drug Addiction

Another Pennsylvania county has recognized that rehabilitative and therapeutic courts are a great way to treat addiction and thereby reduce recidivism. While drug addiction has always been a problem, the type of people who are becoming addicted is changing. Addiction has often been viewed as primarily affecting the lower class of citizens, but more and… view more

Detention or Custody in State College DUI Investigation

By Jason Dunkle on G+ In a recent blog, I discussed when police-citizen interactions are investigative detentions or custodial situations, and I reviewed a typical Penn State marijuana possession investigation to show both concepts in a practical situation. I also noted that the distinction between a mere encounter and custody can be important for 5th… view more

Unconventional Use for Toothpaste – Avoid Speeding Tickets

By Jason Dunkle on G+ I like those books and posts on the web that tell you that normal households products can be used to fix some problems, such as white vinegar being used to  clean hard water deposits from coffee makers. I recently came across an article that found a new use for toothpaste… view more

Penn State Fake ID Case – Providing Someone Else’s Identifying Information

By Jason Dunkle on G+ According to an Ohio newspaper, a man was being investigated for a criminal offense, and the man, hoping to avoid criminal charges, provided a fake ID to the police.  More specifically, the suspect provided the identifying information of another person, including the other person’s social security number. As irony would have… view more