St. Louis Criminal Defense Legal Blog

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Wednesday, May 1, 2019. This study will likely resonate. Lots of research efforts focus on police practices and performance across the United States. Collectively speaking, there are unquestionably hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of pages devoted to that subject matter online and on library shelves. Reporters from a national media publication are now adding a few more. OK, a lot more. In fact, a tandem team of researchers from USA Today and a nonprofit group have reportedly just concluded a year-plus effort “creating the biggest collection of police misconduct …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, April 25, 2019. Missouri arrests involving illegal drugs routinely yield starkly adverse consequences for defendants across the state. Those outcomes are often even more severe when a weapon is involved. That was underscored in a recent criminal matter that played out in the southeastern Missouri city of Kennett. An individual there was sentenced following a plea agreement to a 16-year prison term. He admitted to multiple counts of methamphetamine possession in an alleged drug-trafficking scheme, coupled with repeat firearms violations. One notable takeaway from the case stresses the sheer amount of …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Reform is in the air. To be more specific, it is strongly evident in a mass of legislation currently being fine-tuned and closely debated in Jefferson City. The Missouri capital is awash in reform initiatives that seek to materially adjust existing criminal laws and penalties. What is especially notable about a pile of would-be laws under consideration is their authorship. Suggestions espousing significant reforms across a broad spectrum are coming in from both sides of the political aisle, which spells a sharp divergence from the past. That is, …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, April 4, 2019. A criminal conviction obviously yields multiple downsides. A felony charge in Missouri or elsewhere often brings a stringent behind-bars penalty. Indeed, even a comparatively minor misdemeanor offense can bring a months’-long jail term. And then there can be ancillary exactions to deal with as well for a defendant. Various costs and fees can be punitively high. Mandatory substance abuse classes, imposed community service, periodic drug testing, harsh probationary terms – all these and more collectively play a factor in the punishment equation. So too does the very fact …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Monday, March 25, 2019. The War on Crime. The War on Drugs. Dangerous felons. Truly violent offenders. Citizens at risk. Such tags are evocative, and they have unquestionably colored the public’s perceptions regarding crime in the United States over many decades. Based on such wording and imagery, it is small wonder that legions of Americans think that a horde of marauders is at the door. In fact, reality paints a quite different picture, and Greg Berman is quite happy to sketch it. Berman is the director of the nonprofit criminal justice reform …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, March 21, 2019. “Get a Job” is the title to a classic pop song of yesteryear. Hollywood also recently released a film with the same name. Millions of people across the country daily think about jobs, apply for jobs and dream of scoring jobs. There is no dearth of data to conclusively demonstrate that being gainfully employed links closely with a person’s self-esteem. And just as importantly, of course, having a job is what pays the rent, provides for families, secures further education and enables upward mobility. Not being able to …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Monday, March 18, 2019. It’s not like St. Louis County is off the radar when it comes to the spotlighting of problems linked with juvenile crime and the subsequent failure of young people charged with criminal counts to secure legal counsel. In fact, the county has been prominently cited by both advocates for minor offenders and federal government officials as having a problem concerning juveniles’ right to counsel. That is this: Both in the past and presently a troublingly high number of youthful offenders are reportedly waiving their right to timely secure …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. So-called “civil asset forfeiture” has long been a hot-button topic in Missouri and other states across the country, with both adherents and detractors voicing strong opinions concerning the practice. Asset forfeiture enables federal and state law enforcers to seize property they say is somehow related to the spoils of crime. An alleged drug trafficker’s bank accounts might be taken over. A business owner might have equipment or other assets seized by authorities claiming that an enterprise has been engaging in money laundering. Supporters of the practice – most …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, February 28, 2019. When national commentator and news voice Von Jones says he wants “to disrupt the status quo,” he is not alluding to a cutting-edge opinion piece or edgy interview with a controversial public figure. The focus is something altogether different. Indeed, it is a light year away from what Jones usually does. The CNN on-air personality was recently asked to head a criminal justice reform movement, and he is jumping at the opportunity. He says he is ecstatic over the chance to “shift the criminal justice landscape for generations …

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, February 21, 2019. The Missouri House of Representatives in Jefferson City is the place to be presently for individuals interested in hearing about and debating criminal justice reforms. This year is unquestionably going to see legislative sessions prominently marked by promotion and energized discussion of many would-be laws avidly endorsed by sponsors who say the time is ripe for change. Meaningful change, that is. As in a bail-reform bill that will seriously address the relative inequity visited upon lower-income defendants who present no risks yet are simply too cash poor to get out …