Glassport Criminal Defense Lawyer
Probation v. Parole
Probation and parole are two terms that are commonly misused. Probation is given instead of a prison sentence, while parole is something granted to prisoners as a reward for good behavior.
Probation allows a person convicted of a crime to avoid jail as long as he or she follows certain conditions set by the court. Such conditions commonly include remaining employed, abiding by a curfew, and submitting to drug and alcohol tests. Parole, meanwhile, refers to the early release of a prisoner who promises to follow certain restrictions.
Violating your probation or parole can land you in jail or even extend your punishment. At Spivak Law Firm, we aim to keep you out of jail and avoid additional penalties. To learn more, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Clean Your Criminal Record
In Pennsylvania, the old expungement law only allowed summary convictions to be erased from your criminal record. Fortunately, that has changed, as Pennsylvania recently expanded the laws for people to erase or conceal their criminal records from employers so they can move on with their lives.
In many cases, people convicted of second- and third-degree misdemeanors will be permitted to request a court order limiting public access to their criminal records. You may be eligible if you have been free of arrest and/or conviction for the past ten years, and if you fulfilled all requirements in your sentences.
Spivak Law Firm routinely helps people clean their criminal records for employment reasons and to preserve their reputations. Call us for a free consultation at: (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Conceal Your Criminal Record
Limited access orders are Pennsylvania’s newest form of relief for people seeking to conceal their criminal records from future employers.
The order prevents any non-criminal justice agency from accessing your criminal record.
Under Pennsylvania law, a limited access order will shield from potential employers criminal history record information for people convicted of a second- or third-degree misdemeanor, or an ungraded misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of no more than two years, so long as you have been free of arrest or prosecution for a period of 10 years.
At Spivak Law Firm, we help people seal or even erase their criminal records so they can move on with their lives.
For a free consultation, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Underage Drinking and License Suspension
Underage drinking is a criminal offense in Pennsylvania punishable by up to three months in jail.
The legal age for buying, drinking, possessing or transporting alcohol in Pennsylvania is 21-years-old.
The mere attempt to purchase alcohol may result in a summary offense if you’re underage.
Additionally, the Department of Transportation may suspend the defendant’s driver’s license even if there was no car involved.
A first conviction will result in a 30-day suspension of driving privileges; a second conviction will result in a 1-year suspension; and any additional convictions will result in a 2-year suspension.
For a free consultation with an experienced criminal defense attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Helping Women In Criminal Cases
Women are more likely to remain incarcerated because they cannot afford bail, according to a recent report.
High pretrial detention rates are a major component of mass incarceration, accounting for 99 percent of jail growth over the last 15 years. Women comprise the fastest rate of growth among incarcerated populations.
Women held in pretrial detention often face long separations from their families resulting in devastating collateral consequences such as loss of child custody and eviction from their homes.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, compassionate representation in all family-law and criminal-defense matters with a special focus on domestic violence and child custody. Call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Spivak Law Firm Wins More Awards
The award-winning Spivak Law Firm received multiple honors this month for providing superior legal services and client satisfaction.
The Pittsburgh-based firm handles all areas of family law and criminal defense with a special focus on Protection from Abuse (PFA) hearings and high-conflict child custody cases.
Our award-winning attorneys have helped hundreds of people accused of physical abuse, harassment, stalking, sexual abuse, child abuse, and other forms of domestic abuse.
In many cases, we get the PFA and related criminal charges dismissed then expunge our client’s records so they can fully move on with their lives.
We handle the following family law cases: divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, Children Youth and Families (CYF), and Protection From Abuse (PFA).
We routinely defend people criminally charged with: domestic violence, driving under the influence (DUI), simple assault, aggravated assault, harassment, recklessly endangering another person, stalking, disorderly conduct, retail theft and various other misdemeanors and summary offenses.
This month, Attorney Todd Spivak was honored again by American Institute of Family Law Attorneys and designated a Super Lawyer.
Attorney Rebecca Canterbury was named a Top 10 Family Law Attorney by Attorney and Practice Magazine and received a 10.0 rating on the Avvo legal directory, where clients routinely sing her praises as a strong, compassionate advocate who gets results.
To speak with an experienced family law or criminal defense attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
What is an expungement?
Expungement refers to the legal process for erasing a person’s criminal record. Under Pennsylvania law, the term “expunge” means as follows:
-To remove information so that there is no trace or indication that such information existed;
-To eliminate all identifiers that may be used to trace the identity of an individual, allowing remaining data to be used for statistical purposes; or
-Maintenance of certain information required or authorized when an individual has successfully completed the conditions of any pre-trial or post-trial diversion or probation program.
Spivak Law Firm helps people expunge their criminal records so they can move on with their lives. To speak with an experienced criminal expungement attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Summary Offenses and Expungements
Summary offenses are low-level criminal offenses. They include public intoxication, disorderly conduct, public urination, harassment, and cruelty to animals.
If you’re charged with a summary offense, we recommend contesting the charges by pleading ‘not guilty’ and hiring Spivak Law Firm to represent you in court.
We have helped many people charged with summary offenses, then successfully expunged, or erased, the charges from their criminal records.
At Spivak Law Firm, we do not judge our clients. We provide strong, aggressive representation to help them move on with their lives.
Call us today at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Disorderly Conduct Penalties In Pennsylvania
Disorderly conduct is generally charged as a summary offense, though it may be graded as a more serious third-degree misdemeanor under certain conditions in Pennsylvania.
Disorderly conduct is a third-degree misdemeanor when:
- The defendant intends to cause “substantial” harm;
- The defendant intends to cause “serious” inconvenience; or
- The defendant “persists” in disorderly conduct after reasonable warning to stop.
Penalties for a summary offense include a maximum of 90 days in jail, whereas penalties for a third-degree misdemeanor offense include a maximum of one year in jail.
Under Pennslylvania law, only summary offenses can be expunged after five years, though third-degree misdemeanors may be eligible for sealing after 10 years.
To speak with an experienced criminal defense and expungement attorney, call Spivak Law Firm at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.
Charged With Simple Assault?
Under Pennsylvania law, you may be criminally charged with simple assault not only for hitting somebody. You may also face simple assault charges merely for scaring them.
Simple assault is a second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in jail. It’s a charge commonly brought by police when there are allegations of domestic violence.
If you’re accused of getting into a bar fight, you’ll likely be charged with simple assault.
If you’re accused of hitting your spouse, you’ll likely be charged with simple assault.
The law additionally provides that a person is guilty of simple assault for attempting to put a person “in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.”
Thus, threatening a person with a weapon may result in simple assault charges even if there was no physical harm.
Spivak Law Firm provides strong, aggressive defense in all criminal matters. For a free consultation, call us at (412) 344-4900 or toll free at (800) 545-9390.