Much research has been done in recent years on the effects that solitary confinement has on inmates. Studies suggest that improper and over-zealous use of solitary confinement can severely harm inmates both mentally and physically. Florida is in a unique position to rectify some of these preventable wrongs. As the state which incarcerates more juvenile offenses than any other,...
Continue ReadingPeople in Florida convicted of drug crimes often face stiff penalties. Part of their punishment usually includes time behind bars. However, is that really the best place for them? More than 2 million people are currently serving time behind bars. About half of those serving time in a federal prison are there for drug-related crimes. The United States has...
Continue ReadingJudges in two Florida counties are mandating the use of GPS trackers in certain cases they deem to be high-risk. Individuals accused of committing acts of domestic violence in Osceola and Orange counties may be fitted with GPS devices designed to warn those associated with orders of protection in the event that their alleged abuser comes too close. At...
Continue ReadingBreathalyzer devices are routinely used to determine the blood alcohol content (BAC) of individuals who are suspected of driving under the influence (DUI). The readings obtained from these devices are then used against a given suspect in court, should the results indicate that the suspect’s BAC is over the legal limit of .08 for adults aged 21 and older....
Continue ReadingThe criminal justice system both serves to hold criminal offenders accountable for their behavior and to ensure that the rights of anyone accused or convicted of criminal behavior are respected. A long-recognized right of those forced to mount a formal criminal defense is that of double jeopardy protection. This right is critical, but is widely misunderstood. Double jeopardy protection...
Continue ReadingFederal criminal court trials rarely result in an acquittal on all charges. But that is exactly what a U.S. District Court jury did in the case involving a truck driver accused of smuggling drugs while transporting orange juice to Florida. The case involved charges of three counts of felony federal drug charges, including smuggling. The drugs in question were...
Continue ReadingEvery major television network broadcasts programs centered on detectives, forensic experts and other professionals whose job responsibilities include solving crime and predicting criminal behavior. Certainly, law enforcement and other crime experts must engage in behavior analysis in order to do their jobs. But these programs tend to overly romanticize a very complex subject, as this sort of analysis can...
Continue ReadingThe Orlando Sentinel reports that Florida State Senator Rob Cole has introduced legislation which would make possession of synthetic marijuana marketed under the names “spice” and “K-2” illegal, as well as a number of other substances. Possession of these substances would carry a penalty of up to a year in jail and those caught selling or manufacturing these drugs...
Continue ReadingFirst, a lab technician in Massachusetts handled criminal evidence negligently in thousands of cases. Now, nearly 1,000 rape cases in New York City may have been tainted by evidence mishandling by a crime lab technician. These criminal defense challenges do not just affect those defendants and victims directly affected by the negligent behavior of the specific lab techs in...
Continue ReadingThroughout Orlando and the rest of the state, Florida Highway Patrol will be in full-force with regard to DUI check points and saturation patrols until New Year’s Day. Starting 2013 off with drunk driving charges is certainly not the most desirable of happenings, but it could happen. At times, it can be difficult to know when you have had...
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