Category Archives: Florida Criminal Law
Do I Qualify for Pretrial Intervention?
Not everybody who is charged with a crime is convicted. Sometimes, it is because the prosecution does not have sufficient evidence to find them guilty and in other cases, it is because they accept plea bargains or enter a diversion program. Many Florida residents facing misdemeanor and third degree felony charges have the option… Read More »
What is the Difference Between Prison and Jail?
You might have heard the terms “prison” and “jail” used interchangeably. Although this happens often, the two are actually not the same. When you are arrested for an alleged criminal offense and held before your trial, you are typically held in jail. Depending on the type of charge you face, you could be transferred… Read More »
Are Polygraph Results Admissible in Court?
You have seen them on countless television shows, in movies, and heard about them being used in criminal investigations in a variety of cases. Polygraph machines, also known as lie detector tests, are a common trope in courtroom dramas and for many individuals, part of their mental image of a criminal investigation. But in… Read More »
The Most Common Offenses Committed on University Campuses
Going off to college is an exciting time in a young adult’s life. For many, it means leaving the only hometown they have ever known and experiencing a culture of new, sometimes seemingly-illogical rules, social mores, and expectations. But one constant issue on campuses across the nation is the issue of crime. Just like… Read More »
Florida Crime Rate on the Decline
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) recently released the state’s annual crime statistics. Though the numbers look good overall, the rate of occurrence for some serious crimes continues to rise. The FDLA is a state agency falling under the umbrella of the governor and the executive branch. Established in 1967, the department is… Read More »
Florida Considers Legalization of the Slung Shot (No, Not Sling Shot)
Florida legislators are currently considering a bill that will make it legal to carry a century old weapon that is gaining new popularity. Slung shots are small masses of metal or stone attached to flexible string or strap. Historically, they were used as boating tools to cast line from one area to another. As… Read More »
Florida Counties Lessen DNA Testing Times
Defending a criminal case is a huge responsibility for any lawyer. As a client, you place your trust and confidence in the person who is representing your interests before the court. In doing so, lawyers employ a variety of legal theories and tactics to place a reasonable doubt in the theory of the prosecution…. Read More »
Florida Bar Offers Advice for Young Adults
Young college students are faced with a number of challenges as they enter the next phase of their lives. Beginning adulthood comes with extensive responsibilities, as these young people begin to take care of their own matters and face more serious consequences for their actions. Though their age may technically classify them as adults,… Read More »
What Places A Case in Federal Jurisdiction
Local newspapers are reporting about a Florida man who was recently sentenced in one of the biggest prescription drug thefts in history. Known as El Gato, the defendant will reportedly spend more than six years behind bars in a federal prison. According to the Sun Sentinel, he confessed to his participation in a scheme… Read More »
Understanding Florida’s Hit and Run Laws
When an individual hits a person or a person’s property with a motor vehicle, there is a responsibility to notify the owner and the authorities. A recent study found that many Florida drivers are either unaware of this obligation, or purposely ignoring it. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that more than 80,000 hit and… Read More »
Ambiguous Florida Tampering Law Under Attack
Florida’s food tampering statute is at the center of a criminal case involving allegations that a bar owner spiked an employee’s drink. The Orlando Sentinel reported the story about a Longwood bar owner who is facing up to 30 years in prison. According to the article, the 49-year-old owner was drinking shots with a female bartender after the… Read More »
