Forensic Science Infallibility Increasingly Questioned

In Sex Crimes by RSFJ

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Sex Crimes on Thursday, March 29, 2018. It is unsurprising that legions of Americans all across the country put high credibility on what they regard as the near-magic qualities of forensics science. After all, the processes and findings in that realm have been repeatedly blessed in CSI and related television dramas and movies for decades. Lab technicians working purposefully in sterilized labs with next-generation equipment and technologies simply do not err. Or do they? High numbers of critics just as well educated and trained in the field as real lab specialists know that forensics-linked errors …

What Catalysts Promote White Collar Crime In Missouri, Nationally?

In White Collar Crimes by RSFJ

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in White Collar Crimes on Thursday, March 22, 2018. We suspect at the criminal defense firm of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry in St. Louis that few of our readers across Missouri and elsewhere believe there is a simple answer to the query posed above in today’s blog headline. Indeed, there isn’t, which is acknowledged in a recent Forbes article delving into corporate fraud and its underlying motivations. The white collar criminal universe is varied and tremendously complex in the United States. Moreover, it is bathed in a powerful spotlight these days. Government regulators and law enforcers are …

Criminal Law Focus: Traumatic Brain Injury, Culpability

In Violent Crimes by RSFJ

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Violent Crimes on Thursday, March 15, 2018. Criminal sentencing outcomes in Missouri and nationally have various underlying rationales. Deterrence is often cited when a prison term is meted out in a given case. So too is an inmate’s perceived potential to be rehabilitated. And then there is punishment, which is often a clear factor guiding a judge’s or jury’s determinations concerning a defendant’s future. Central to that is culpability, that is, the notion that a wrongdoer purposefully broke the law, knew there were consequences and must now pay the price. It has long been a …

Recent Fed Actions Signal Enforcement Uptick In Opioid Realm

In Drug Crimes by RSFJ

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, March 8, 2018. Opioid addiction is a burning concern for state and federal authorities across the United States, including in Missouri. Prescription drug misuse and related problems have been termed a “crisis” by many commentators. Legislators and law enforcers seek desperately to gain control over what they view as an alarming and escalating issue. Harsh criminal and civil penalties clearly play a central part of the strategy employed by federal regulators against the opioid epidemic. That is often well evidenced, including just last week by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in remarks delivered …

When Is A Marijuana Possession Charge Considered A Felony?

In Drug Crimes by RSFJ

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Monday, March 5, 2018. Marijuana has been legalized – medically or recreationally – in many states, but Missouri is not one of them. While there are efforts to add a constitutional amendment to the 2018 election ballot that would legalize medical marijuana, current law does not allow marijuana use of any kind. As a result, it is important to know what could happen if you are arrested for marijuana possession. Depending on several factors, a marijuana charge could be a misdemeanor or a felony. Possession charges A first offense for marijuana possession, if the …

Why States Need To Periodically Adjust Their Charging Guidelines

In White Collar Crimes by RSFJ

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in White Collar Crimes on Thursday, March 1, 2018. An experienced Missouri criminal defense attorney has many and varied responsibilities when called upon to forcefully represent an individual in a criminal law matter. Closely investigating the state’s case in all dimensions is an obvious focus. Did authorities have probable cause to interact with a client? Are there plausible challenges to the state’s offered evidence? Did police officers comply with warrant requirements? Were all required steps and legal processes scrupulously followed? A prominent spotlight also centers sometimes on charging-related matters, especially concerning the question of whether an …