Posted on November 03, 2014 in Criminal Defense

The crime rate is down in Connecticut. That’s the good news. But is it possible to know exactly what factors are responsible for the improved enforcement, enhanced prevention, and ultimately the reduction in crime?

According to a new report by the Connecticut Emergency Services and Public Protection Department, the 2013 crime rate in the state dropped to its lowest level in four decades. The figures are based on the major crimes reported to the FBI, including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft.

The year-to-year drop in violent crime, which includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault offenses, was 10.8 percent, double the national average. Property crime, which includes burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft offenses, was down 7.6 percent, higher than the 5.4 percent national drop. However, although the drop in the murder rate was dramatic, there were still 86 murders in the state in 2013. The overall crime rates are largely driven by the crime rates in the state’s three largest cities, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford.

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 Posted on October 27, 2014 in Criminal Defense

If a Connecticut defendant is a substance abuser, there are options available for seeking treatment in addition to or in lieu of being prosecuted and sentenced for a criminal offense. These options include the Drug Intervention Program and the treatment of drug or alcohol dependent offenders instead of prosecution.

The Drug Intervention Program is available to nonviolent, drug-dependent defendants in different types of cases in which substance abuse is a major issue. The goals of the program are to reduce criminal behavior and reduce substance abuse. The program uses treatment, including detoxification, inpatient or outpatient treatment; services such as vocational and educational training; supervision; regular drug testing; and court monitoring over the course of 12 to 15 months. Defendants are required to report to the court regularly and must receive orders, sanctions, and incentives ordered by the judge. Defendants can be referred to the program by the judge, defense counsel, state’s attorneys, or court officers. Successful completion of the program can result in a favorable outcome for the defendant.

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 Posted on October 20, 2014 in Sex Crimes

Sexual assault on college campuses occurs at an alarming rate across the nation. According to an online article published by The Washington Post, nearly 4,000 reports of forcible sex offenses were reported on college campuses in 2012, an increase of 50 percent over three years.

Due to this significant spike, the issue has become spotlighted as a national concern. The White House recently launched the “It’s On Us” campaign against sexual assault on college campuses. According to White House reports, an estimated one in every five women is sexually assaulted while in college with only 13 percent of rape survivors reporting their assault.

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 Posted on October 15, 2014 in Criminal Defense

The terminology used in the criminal justice system can be confusing, especially if you have been charged with a crime and need to understand exactly what the charges are. Here are some of the basic terms and their definitions under the law.

Felony

A felony is defined by Connecticut law as an offense for which someone may be imprisoned for over one year. Felonies are generally classified as A, B, C, or D, depending on the length of sentence, with Class A being the most serious offenses with the longest sentences. Felonies include murder, sexual assault, and certain robbery and larceny charges.

Misdemeanor

A misdemeanor is defined as any offense for which someone may be imprisoned for up to one year. Like felonies, misdemeanors are generally classified as A, B, C, or D, and Class A misdemeanors are subject to the longest sentences of up to one year. Misdemeanors include criminal trespass, violation of a protective order, breach of peace, and certain criminal mischief.

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 Posted on October 06, 2014 in Driving Under the Influence

Americans are all too familiar with the strong anti-drunk driving advertisements that display on TV commercials and highway billboards. Catchy quotes, such as “buzzed driving is drunk driving,” are well known, but DUI rates remain high across the country. In many cases, buzzed drivers are not necessarily operating their vehicles recklessly, but they simply do not know that a just a small amount of alcohol can cause a person to reach the legal limit of a 0.08 blood alcohol content (BAC).

According to the Mother's Against Drunk Driving, drunk driving is one of the most frequently committed crimes in America. While getting behind the wheel after a drink or two may be an innocent gesture, the stakes are simply too high to take a chance. Drunk driving not only can lead to the revocation of a driver’s license, but it can also result in significant financial penalties.

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 Posted on September 24, 2014 in Criminal Defense

In Connecticut, if you are convicted of a crime or a motor vehicle offense, a judge can sentence you to probation as part of your sentence. The probation can begin immediately after you are sentenced, or, if incarceration is part of your sentence, probation will begin immediately after your release. The length of time you will be on probation is up to the judge’s discretion, based on the crime you were convicted of.

Once your probation begins, you will be assigned a probation officer. If you are beginning your probation upon release from prison, you should contact your probation officer immediately. The officer will assign you a day and time you are required to report to him or her. It is imperative to report as you have been told. Failure to do so could result in the officer issuing a violation and having your case returned to court, where you could possibly be sent back to prison.

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 Posted on September 18, 2014 in Juvenile Crimes

Prior to 2012, Connecticut was one of only three states in the U.S. that treated teens aged 16 and 17 as adults under criminal law. As a result, 16- and 17-year-olds were prosecuted under the adult justice system and were sentenced to adult prisons with no special rehabilitative services designed for adolescents. However, as a result of juvenile justice reform, legislation raised the age of juvenile jurisdiction for 16-year-olds on January 1, 2010, and for 17-year-olds on July 2, 2012.

Despite fears that these changes would cause the juvenile justice system to be overwhelmed and that the crime rate would increase dramatically, neither have happened. In fact, the crime rate in Connecticut for 2013 has decreased for the second straight year. The increase in the age of adult prosecution could be a contributing factor. Fewer teens are being incarcerated in adult prisons and commit more serious crimes after their release.

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 Posted on September 10, 2014 in Drug Charges

If you are a college student and have applied and received federal grants and loans through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program, being convicted of a drug-related felony or misdemeanor will leave you ineligible to receive future financial assistance for a certain period of time from the date of your conviction.

How long that ineligibility will last depends on the number of convictions you have and the type of offense you are convicted of. A first offense for possession of drugs will leave you ineligible for one year. If it is your have been convicted for selling illegal drugs and it is your first offense, you will not be able to apply for federal aid for two year.

A second possession conviction will leave you without FAFSA assistance for two years. If you have received two or more convictions of selling drugs, or if this is your third or more conviction for possession, the law says you will not be eligible for federal student aid unless your conviction is overturned or legally ruled to be invalid.

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 Posted on September 02, 2014 in Criminal Defense

According to a recent Harris Poll, adult drivers are engaging in risky behavior, including texting and talking on cell phones, even though they know it is dangerous. Distracted driving can result in stiff penalties depending on the number of prior offenses you have on your record, but it can also lead to crashes resulting in vehicle damage, injury, and even death.

Texting and Driving

The poll questioned over 2,000 adults between May 27 and 29, 2014. While over 90 percent agreed that sending and reading texts while driving is dangerous, 45 percent admit to reading text messages, and 37 percent say they have sent text messages while driving. Thirty-six percent of drivers with smart phones or tablets report using the devices to look information up while driving.

Talking on Cell Phones

Adults also talk on cell phones while behind the wheel even though they know it is dangerous. Sixty-nine percent think that talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving is dangerous, while only 36 percent believe that talking on a hands-free cell phone is dangerous. This is in spite of the fact that studies have shown that there is little difference from a safety perspective between talking on a hand-held cell phone and a hands-free version while driving. Although they know talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous, 74 percent of adults do it, with 21 percent reporting that they do it frequently.

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 Posted on August 27, 2014 in Driving Under the Influence

Some cars can park themselves, brake automatically, and keep the car from drifting across lanes on the highway. In addition to all the advances in automotive technology that have taken place over the last several years, it may be just a matter of time until a device in your car can tell if the driver is too drunk to safely operate the car.

In an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working with suppliers on the development of the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS). The system would automatically determine the driver’s blood alcohol content by either touch or breath. Ideally, the system would be passive, gathering the needed data without requiring the driver to blow into a breathalyzer. It is even possible that the system could then prevent the driver from operating the car if the driver’s blood alcohol level is above the legal limit.

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