Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Should I Remain Silent During an Arrest In New Jersey?
When you’re being arrested, it’s often difficult to think and behave in a logical manner. You may be extremely emotional due to the circumstances that led to your arrest, and there may be a million different thoughts running through your mind. Although it’s certainly no easy feat, remaining calm and collected is by far… Read More »
What Happens When You Drive Without a License in New Jersey?
Driving without a license in New Jersey is never a good idea, but it’s a common offense in the Garden State. For many individuals who are stopped by police without a license, the crime is purely accidental. Perhaps you misplaced your wallet before getting in the car. Maybe you removed your license from your… Read More »
I Assaulted a Co-Worker in New York. What are My Legal Options?
No one should have to experience a hostile work environment in New York or any other state. Unfortunately, stressful environments can cause well-meaning and good-natured people to lose control at times. If you have assaulted your co-worker in New York, it’s important to consider your legal options. There’s no need to simply accept your… Read More »
Drunk Driving Laws in New York: How A DWI Defense Lawyer Can Help
All 50 states have laws against drunk driving, usually defined as operating a motor vehicle when your blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08 or higher, but New York’s driving while intoxicated (DWI) laws are especially detailed. In New York, it matters not only how much alcohol you consumed and whether you have previous DWIs… Read More »
What is Drug Possession with Intent to Sell?
In our lifetime, the law has begun to treat people charged with drug possession more humanely and to acknowledge that addiction is an illness, not a series of malicious acts. For example, Rockland County has a drug court program that connects people charged with drug possession or other nonviolent offenses that stem from incidents… Read More »
Could Legalized Recreational Cannabis Be New York State’s Ticket to Economic Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic?
When you look at the history of cannabis policies, it becomes obvious that New York was miles ahead of the rest of the country for decades. In some ways, it is surprising that New York has not legalized recreational cannabis use for adults at the state level, when eleven other states, including deep red… Read More »
Rockland County Drug Court Aims to Help Defendants in Their Paths to Society
Does it make sense to send someone to prison for years, or even decades, for possession of a single dose of illegal drugs? Given our society’s current understanding of substance use disorder as an illness, it is cruel and unfair to compound the suffering of people struggling with addiction by imposing prison sentences, followed… Read More »
Cyber-Harassment Can Land You in State Prison, as Well as Costing You Your Job
You know you are dealing with a member of the older generation when they attach the prefix “cyber” to words referring to activities that involve devices that connect to the Internet, but cyber-bullying, also known as cyber-harassment, is distinct from old-fashioned schoolyard bullying and is even more insidious. In the old days, victims of… Read More »
The New Jersey Pretrial Intervention Program: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity, but Not a “Get Out of Jail Free” Card
As you ride to the county jail after getting arrested, you probably wish that the preceding minutes or hours had never happened. You wish that there could be a way to turn back time. In fact, the New Jersey Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program is the closest thing there is to erasing your criminal case… Read More »
What’s Next for New Jersey Marijuana Laws If the Recreational Cannabis Referendum Passes?
It is an understatement to say that a lot is at stake in this year’s presidential election, and in New Jersey, voters will have a chance with a big decision about one of the most fragrant, and most polarizing, plants in the Garden State. On Election Day, New Jersey voters will have a chance… Read More »
