Recent Blog Posts
Reminder That Marijuana is Still a Controlled Substance in Florida
Even as some US states are legalizing marijuana for recreational and medical use, it’s important to remember that you can still be charged with Florida drug crimes for certain forms of misconduct. In fact, cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance, defined as a drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high… Read More »
What does it Mean to be a Habitual Felony Offender in Florida?
Like many other US states, Florida has developed a formula for sentencing when someone is convicted for a crime. For the most part, the designated penalties or range of punishment is listed by statute and judges have discretion in sentencing for certain offenses. In addition, the criminal laws provide for “enhancements” – i.e., situations… Read More »
Overview of the Federal Drug Crimes Court Process
There are two overlapping criminal justice systems in Florida, those based upon state law and others which proceed at the federal level. Both systems are very similar, but there are significant differences when it comes to criminal court procedures. For the 139,541 people arrested for federal drug crimes in Florida in 2018 – such… Read More »
South Florida Weird Crime News: COVID-19 Edition
Florida has often been associated with bizarre crime stories, but the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in weird crime news throughout the US. Despite experts’ predictions that unlawful activity would drop as Americans comply with stay-at-home orders, a Miami Herald article dated April 11, 2020 reveals a new phenomenon: Coronavirus crime. In some… Read More »
Can Surveillance Video Be Used Against Me in a Florida Criminal Case?
If you watch crime-related news in Florida and throughout the US, you’ve probably seen many surveillance videos that were key for police making arrests and prosecutors getting convictions. The camera captures credible, effective evidence in many theft offenses, but the footage can also be used to place a suspect in a certain spot for… Read More »
What Constitutes Reckless Driving in Florida?
Traffic tickets are a fairly common occurrence around Fort Lauderdale, so it’s easy to fall victim to the myth that a citation is not a big deal. However, when you’re facing charges for violating Florida’s statute on reckless driving, you should definitely be concerned about your legal rights. While some traffic tickets are minor… Read More »
Are All Florida Sex Crimes Felony Offenses?
While you might expect that the serious nature of Florida sex crimes would always lead to the most severe charges, not all offenses are felonies. The distinction between misdemeanor and felony is an important one, since only certain felonies trigger the requirement to register as a sex offender under Florida law – in addition… Read More »
How Prescription Medications Affect Florida DUI Charges
Medication, whether prescription or not, can have powerful effects on the human body. Lawmakers recognized that controlled substances may seriously impact a motorist’s physical and cognitive capabilities, which is why Florida’s driving under the influence statute includes a prohibition on drugged driving. If you get pulled over by police on suspicion of DUI, you’ll… Read More »
Florida Domestic Violence Cases and Implications for Your Job
Criminal domestic violence charges are extremely serious because of the potential punishment for a conviction, which may include at least 10 days in jail under Florida’s domestic violence mandatory minimum sentencing. However, a conviction – or even just an arrest – can affect many other aspects of your life. Domestic violence charges carry a… Read More »
What is ‘Bail Jumping’ and How Does It Affect My Florida Criminal Case?
In criminal cases, it’s common for a person to be released on bail and be somewhat free until the matter concludes. The modifier is due to the fact that you’re not truly free while your case is pending. Even though you’re not in custody, you still have certain obligations after you’ve bailed out –… Read More »