Many times when you face a drug charge, the court allows you to enter a diversion program where you can seek treatment instead. Getting treatment allows you to not only help yourself avoid criminal charges but also enables you to move past your addiction and recover...
What is the difference between possession and distribution?
If you have a valid prescription for a controlled substance in New York, you may wish to refrain from possessing or carrying a sizable amount of it in public. Carrying too much of a controlled substance, such as in your pocket, purse or vehicle, may lead to a charge...
Can police ever search your phone or computer without a warrant?
When encountering police in New York, it is essential to understand your rights and to plan your response ahead of time. Many useful guides exist online offering advice on how to handle police encounters, but few of these address the growing question of cellphones and...
Career help may be available for nurses with addiction issues
From the high risk of musculoskeletal injuries that may require ongoing pain relief to the fatigue and stress of long, intense hours on the job, nurses are far from immune from developing a chemical dependency. In addition to potential personal and legal consequences,...
When police stop you, what rights do you have?
It is important for every American to understand their rights and how they apply to what police can and cannot do. Knowing your rights allows you to exercise them and identify when a police offer is not within their rights to take certain actions. This article...
Penalties for New York drug offenses
New York maintains strict penalties for drug possession. While some such offenses are misdemeanors, the state often classifies drug crimes as felonies. If you face a court date in New York for drug charges, learn more about the potential consequences of a...
Properly handling lost or mislaid property
Facing an accusation of theft is likely something that you never anticipate having to deal with. Yet such was the same expectation of many of our past clients here at Tinari, O'Connell & Osborn, LLP. That changed for them (and perhaps for you, as well) after...
Combatting opioid addiction
Prescription painkillers and opium derivatives pose a real threat to communities. Long Island is certainly not safe from the addiction epidemic that is currently sweeping the nation. In fact, these highly addictive substances are such a public health risk that the New...
Know your rights when police officers want to search your car
You may often hear stories of people who get stopped for a traffic violation and then end up facing arrest and get charged with a crime following a search of their vehicle. There are situations where a police officer is authorized to search your vehicle. However, you...
The danger of illegally using prescription drugs
One of the basic rules when it comes to prescription medication is never to take a medication not prescribed to you. Even if you know what the drug is and how it works, you should never take someone else's medication. This is a safety precaution. It also is a legal...