by Lea Bickerton | Apr 24, 2026 | Blog, Law Learning Center, PCRA
While many people are familiar with the arrest and trial stages of a criminal case, what happens after a defendant is sentenced isn’t as well known. When mistakes are made in a case in Pennsylvania, the defendant can file a direct appeal or a petition for relief under... by Bickerton Law | Nov 11, 2021 | Law Learning Center
In popular culture, hazing is generally seen as a way of groups to initiate new members into its ranks. In Pennsylvania, certain hazing activities1 are against the law. Hazing Criminal hazing is when a person or a group forces a minor or student to... by Bickerton Law | Nov 11, 2021 | Law Learning Center
Simple assault A person can be charged with simple assault if they try to cause bodily injury to another person , uses physical menace to make someone fear that they may be seriously physically harmed, causes a physical injury with a deadly weapon negligently, or... by Bickerton Law | Nov 10, 2021 | Law Learning Center
In Pennsylvania, a person can be convicted of certain crimes against an unborn child. An unborn child is defined as “an individual organism of the species homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth.” Criminal homicide of an unborn child A person is guilty... by Bickerton Law | Nov 9, 2021 | Criminal Solicitation, Law Learning Center
An inchoate crime is defined as “a step toward the commission of another crime, the step in itself being serious enough to merit punishment.” Criminal attempt It’s illegal to intend to and take a substantial step towards committing a crime Criminal solicitation If you... by Bickerton Law | Nov 1, 2021 | Homicide, Know The Law, Law Learning Center
One of the most serious crimes in Pennsylvania is homicide. Criminal homicide is defined as causing the death of another human being “intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or negligently.” First-degree Murder If a person has killed another willfully, deliberately, or... 