Navigate the intricacies of Florida’s Romeo and Juliet Law, a pivotal legal exception designed to mitigate the harsh consequences of statutory rape convictions under specific conditions. Overview Florida’s Romeo and Juliet Law provides a legal defense for people in consensual close-in-age teenage relationships, providing a lifeline to those facing statutory rape convictions. Under the law, individuals charged with statutory...
Continue ReadingWhen police receive a call to respond to an emergency, they often arrive at a chaotic and emotional scene. It’s their job to figure out what happened. They will take down statements from people and look at any available physical evidence. Then the investigating officers have to make a call: Will they arrest or charge someone with a crime?...
Continue ReadingInvoking Fifth Amendment rights can lead to severe consequences, such as inferences of liability in civil cases or termination from employment for refusing to answer questions about corporate crimes. The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees that no person in a criminal case can be compelled to be a witness against themselves. An experienced criminal defense attorney...
Continue ReadingUnderstanding Florida DUI Probation to Protect Your Future and Avoid Jail Probation plays an important role in Florida’s judicial system, especially in DUI cases. The terms of DUI probation are in place partially to deter future drinking and driving and to help identify people who might have a drinking problem and get them the help they need. However, you...
Continue ReadingYou’re heading home from work, and you’ve been pulled over. The officer finds a small bag of marijuana in your car. Your heart races as you wonder: Will this ruin your life? Understanding whether drug possession is a felony or misdemeanor in Florida can mean the difference between dealing with minor penalties or facing life-altering consequences. Let’s break down...
Continue ReadingUsed to its fullest potential, probation can help turn people’s lives around. But, you must follow all the rules and regulations to make it work. It’s not enough to refrain from committing any new criminal offenses while on probation; you also have to abide by all of the “technical” terms of your probation. Although Florida has relaxed some of...
Continue ReadingAssault with a deadly weapon is a felony offense that can result in up to five years in prison. A felony conviction can inflict collateral consequences beyond a jail sentence, like losing your ability to vote or hold public office. A criminal defense attorney can review the details of your case and negotiate with the prosecutor about your criminal...
Continue ReadingThe trafficking of any drug is a serious crime, but trafficking fentanyl is considered a particularly egregious offense in Florida. Prosecutors treat trafficking offenders harshly because, unlike simple possession of a narcotic, trafficking implies that you are transporting, dealing, trading, or selling the drug. Often, an individual accused of trafficking possesses more drugs than if the drugs were only...
Continue ReadingAsking how to get a domestic violence charge dropped in Florida is important if you or a family member face domestic violence charges. Once the police do arrest you, you lose control over the situation. The prosecution holds all the cards. That means you will need a strong, aggressive attorney to fight for you. An experienced domestic violence defense...
Continue ReadingPlea bargains are one of the defining features of the criminal justice system, with estimates of about 90% to 95% of federal and state court cases ending in a plea agreement. The best plea bargain for a domestic violence case depends on the unique facts and circumstances of the charges the accused is facing. Despite the benefits of the...
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