Earlier this week, we began discussing federal oversight of sex offender registration and reporting. Generally, individuals convicted of certain sex crimes are required to tell state officials where they are residing and working. A change in address must be reported to the state. However, some offenders required to register fail to do so when they move to a new...
Continue ReadingThe federal government has a vested interest in activities that involve the crossing of state lines. For while states can govern a great deal of daily life within their own borders, when individuals and commerce cross state lines, inconsistencies in policies and procedures can lead to inconsistent and other various unintentionally negative consequences. Thus, the federal government tends to...
Continue ReadingOne year ago, an Apopka man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for driving under the influence manslaughter, after he allegedly hit and killed a motorcyclist in Orange County. The 31 year old had been drinking and he apparently had a blood-alcohol content of 0.144 at the time of the accident, which is above the legal limit. What...
Continue ReadingI cannot tell you the last time a day went by when I was not solicited by some marketing or advertising company. Each company trying to sell me on their product and how it was going to transform my law firm and generate more new leads and clients then I could ever dream of handling. These promises come from...
Continue ReadingOur society increasingly functions via portable electronic devices. Emails have largely replaced letters, cellphone calls have largely replaced those made on landlines and an individual’s wireless Internet search history can reveal a great deal about what he or she loves, hates and does on a day-to-day basis. As convenient as portable electronic devices are, they can also reveal incriminating...
Continue ReadingA community in Florida has recently announced a measure which may serve as a model for other Florida jurisdictions. For nearly 20 years, the community has been issuing civil citations for non-violent juveniles who have committed offenses ordinarily addressed by the criminal justice system. In a game-changing move, the community is also currently issuing civil citations for certain adult...
Continue ReadingThe Florida Supreme Court recently held that some criminal trials may be partially closed to the public, but the justices were split on their reasoning for this decision. Press and general public access to criminal proceedings help to ensure that defendants are granted fair trials. However, the court has held that in certain portions of trials involving sex crimes...
Continue ReadingGrits for breakfast is a blog about the Texas criminal just system. On March 23 they took a look at the recent Supreme Court opinion, Missouri v. Frye. The Supreme Court ruled that criminal defense lawyers are required to convey a plea offer to their client. If they do not, then this may be grounds for obtaining a new trial....
Continue ReadingThe Stand your Ground Defense can apply to variety of criminal cases including a simple domestic violence battery charge. The Stand your ground laws in the State of Florida have been a hot topic of discussion over the past couple of weeks related to the high profile case Trayvon Martin. In the Trayvon Martin case, law enforcement is refusing to...
Continue ReadingThe Florida Legislature has passed a bill that would allow for prison sentence modification. Both the House and Senate, has passed bills that would allow for the early release of prisoners held for non-violent offenses. The bill creates a new law that requires the Florida Department of Corrections to develop a reentry program designed to allow nonviolent offenders to...
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