Facial recognition technology is becoming more common in law enforcement investigations in New York. Many people assume that these systems work flawlessly. The reality is far more complicated. Recent reporting about a Brooklyn father who was wrongfully arrested for an indecent exposure offense highlights the risks of a faulty match. Civil rights groups are now…

A federal criminal sentence carries heavy weight – now and in the future. After sentencing occurs, you may learn new facts about your case. You may suspect that something didn’t go correctly or that your rights were violated.  Federal criminal sentences can sometimes be appealed, but the process can be complex. An experienced New York…

U.S. states are inconsistent in how they treat voluntary drinking by an accuser. Some states now prohibit an accused person from using their accuser’s drinking as a defense to a sexual assault charge. Others, including New York, still allow prosecutors to choose not to pursue a case if the accuser was voluntarily intoxicated when the…

Among President Trump’s many goals in his second term is an effort to end bail reforms that reduce the use of cash bail for many criminal charges. Executive orders from the White House and bills introduced in both chambers of Congress seek to enact various versions of these reforms.  Now, New York Congressmember Elise Stefanik…