The criminal justice system functions most basically on two levels. First, the system seeks to protect the public by deterring crime, prosecuting those crimes that occur and preventing former criminals from reoffending. Second, the system seeks to respect the rights of those who are accused, those who are convicted and those who have been released back into society. Too...
Continue ReadingEarlier this month, Florida legislators effectively enacted a bong ban. What does this piece of legislation mean practically for Floridians? Essentially, it is now illegal to intentionally sell devices used to facilitate the enjoyment of marijuana. Though violations of this device distribution ban will not be punished as severely as other drug crimes are, it will place certain businesses...
Continue ReadingPolice misconduct can occur on a number of different levels. An officer may leave pertinent information out of a police report, conduct an identification process that crosses lines or even become overly physical during an arrest, and there are consequences for the violation of citizen rights or limitations set out by law. Consequences include the exclusion of evidence that...
Continue ReadingPolice in Eustis recently concluded what they described as an “extensive investigation” by arresting three men and a woman whom they believe were selling drugs. Late last week, authorities — including Eustis, Tavares and Leesburg police, SWAT teams and DEA agents — raided two homes, one on East Gottsche Avenue and the other on Clifford Avenue. They said they...
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 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 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 ReadingA controversial Florida law is currently being challenged before a federal appeals court. The state law aims to withhold benefits from welfare applicants who may be guilty of certain drug crimes by requiring that they purchase and pass a drug screening test before they may be granted food stamps, child care subsidies and other welfare benefits. The law is...
Continue ReadingA Kissimmee man accused of lying about being robbed and assaulted during an attempted drug buy was recently taken into custody. The man told Osceola County Sheriff’s deputies that he had planned to meet with an unknown woman to make a drug deal. But when he went, the Kissimmee man said two men accosted him, taking his wallet and...
Continue ReadingOrange County Commissioners voted to limit and regulate where new pain management clinics can open. New pain clinics will now be restricted to industrial zoning areas. These new restrictions were recommendations based upon Orange County’s prescription drug task force and is an attempt to limit prescription pill abuse. Clearly, prescription drug abuse is an epidemic not only in Orlando...
Continue Reading