In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, the Congress is working on making significant prison reform. The legislation, called the First Step Act, has the support of President Trump. “Today, I am thrilled to announce my support for this bipartisan bill that will make our communities safer and give former inmates a second chance at […]
Trump Surprises with Prison Reform Read More »
The question has been hotly debated for decades now. Should drug offenders be sent to prison or rehabilitation? It was President Richard Nixon who coined the phrase “war on drugs” as he launched a new effort to stop the growing number of addicts as well as the ever increasing flow of illegal narcotics into this
Rehab or Prison for Drug Offenders? Read More »
Violation of probation or VOP is a serious matter that can land you back in prison or facing hefty fines. For instance, if an individual is on probation for a third degree felony and fails to comply with one of the conditions set by the court, a subsequent violation charge can subject that person to
Violation of Probation in Florida Read More »
To say “Stop and Frisk” is a controversial law enforcement tactic would be an understatement. Police believe the strategy of stop and frisk is essential to preventing crime and catching criminals. Civil rights advocates argue that it’s a violation of the 4th Amendment which guarantees freedom from unwanted searches and seizures. In 1968, in the
Manslaughter may either be voluntary or involuntary. Florida state laws establish the criminal offense of manslaughter when a homicide, the killing of a human being, does not meet the legal definition of murder. Manslaughter, unlike murder, does not require evidence of the defendant’s premeditation or “depraved mind” with disregard for human life; instead, the state
Sealing or expunging a criminal record in Florida has many benefits to the individual. For one, if you are successful in either case, you may legally deny that you’ve been arrested for that crime (except you must disclose the issue if you’re purchasing a firearm, if it was sealed). When a criminal history record is
The Difference Between Sealing and Expunging a Criminal Record in Florida Read More »
Normally, a defendant’s prior bad acts are not admissible as evidence in a criminal trial. The underlying reasoning for this evidentiary rule is that a person should be judged for his or her present conduct and not for things that he or she may have done in the past. In this case, prosecutors want to
Clearwater Parking Space Shooting Case Heats Up Read More »
If you’re planning to vote in November, Florida has a surprise for you. This year there are 12 Constitutional amendments on the ballot. That’s the most since 1998 and probably stems from the fact that the Constitution Revision Commission met this year. Amendment 4 concerns the restoration of voting rights for felons. Presently, Florida is
Two Constitutional Amendments in Florida Involve Crime and Criminals Read More »
Sex. Sex abuse. Sexual assault. He said. She said. All of these could partially explain the country’s fascination with the train wreck that we refer to as the Supreme Court nomination process. Of course, we’ve seen this before with Justice Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill but the frenzied nature of the 24-hour news cycle wasn’t
Why the Kavanaugh Spectacle Has Riveted the Nation Read More »
Have you ever heard someone tell a story of a past event many times and noticed that the story changed with each recounting? Is the narrator of the story lying? Is he/she altering the story to make it more appealing? Or is he/she relying on a distant memory that’s not so reliable? Tough questions all
Our Memories-Fact, Fiction, or a Little Bit of Both? Read More »