| Read Time: < 1 minute | Drug Charges

Florida drug test law for welfare recipients challenged

A 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...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Criminal Justice

Story highlights devastation caused by wrongful conviction

The criminal justice system is far from perfect. As a result, even when an innocent individual has mounted a convincing criminal defense, he or she still may be convicted. Thankfully, advances in DNA evidentiary analysis has made it possible for roughly 300 innocent individuals to be exonerated of their criminal convictions. Unfortunately, the devastation that wrongful convictions cause cannot...

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| Read Time: < 1 minute | Criminal Justice

Florida’s wrongful conviction law’s unjust loophole

Four years ago, the Florida legislature passed a law designed to help those who had been wrongfully convicted of criminal charges. Though attorneys skilled in criminal defense law can often prevent wrongful convictions, the system is not perfect. The wrongful conviction compensation law was designed to right these wrongs in some small way. Unfortunately, only three individuals have received...

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| Read Time: < 1 minute | Theft

Florida law enforcement is cracking down on cyber crime this month

October has been designated National Cyber Security Awareness Month. As a result, Florida officials are cracking down on cyber theft crimes, internet child pornography crimes and other electronically-based offenses. Florida is being targeted by both state and federal officials especially, due to the number of identity theft cases which have been reported to the Federal Trade Commission in recent...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Firearm Crimes

Final Victim of Colorado Movie Shooting Discharged From Hospital

The last patient still being hospitalized after being injured during the horrific Colorado movie theater shooting in July was finally discharged from the hospital earlier this week, according to a statement released by the University of Colorado Hospital. The patient, a comedian by profession, was one of the 58 people injured during the movie theater mass shooting that also...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Criminal Justice

Zimmerman Was Unaware of Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law

Neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman made headlines after being involved in an altercation that left 17-year-old Trayvon Martin dead. The incident brought many issues to the forefront of our nation’s collective conscience, race relations, racial profiling and self defense – specifically Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Since the incident, Zimmerman has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder, he...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | DUI

Breathalyzer Tests: Florida Drivers Often Refuse When Asked to Blow

According to a report by WFTV Eyewitness News, four out of 10 Florida drivers stopped by police for suspected drunk driving refuse breathalyzer tests. However, what these Florida motorists may not know is that simply refusing a breathalyzer can be a serious offense in Florida. Breathalyzer Refusal Rates in Florida Given the high rates of breath test refusal in Florida,...

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| Read Time: < 1 minute | Drug Charges

What a High: Florida Man Avoids Marijuana Possession Charges

A 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...

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| Read Time: 2 minutes | Criminal Justice

Eyewitness Stories Change in Trayvon Martin Case

In a criminal trial, eyewitnesses can play a major role in whether the prosecution will obtain a conviction. Eyewitnesses, however, can sometimes prove to be unreliable, as shown by the recent Trayvon Martin case in Florida. When witnesses give inconsistent testimony, criminal defense for the accused can use these inconsistencies to discredit their testimony. For example, recently four witnesses...

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| Read Time: < 1 minute | Drug Charges

Orange County Commissioners vote on Pain Clinic Regulation

Orange 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...

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