In Florida, criminal charges can lead to severe penalties. If there is a belief that charges can only be lodged against those who have committed violent acts, used weapons to steal, taken part in burglaries, been involved with drugs or driven under the influence, it...
Criminal Defense
What should I know about misdemeanors in FL?
It is well known that between felonies and misdemeanors, felonies are the far more serious crimes. However, if you have gotten charged with a misdemeanor offense in the State of Florida, you are aware of how serious the process can be. A misdemeanor is still a crime,...
Juveniles and hacking. It is not just harmless fun.
Some kids take to hacking as a challenge to beat the system, or they do it on a dare or just because they think it is fun. Few stop to think about the consequences of changing scholastic scores to get them into a better college or invading the Department of Defense to...
Can a criminal conviction take away your gun rights?
A criminal conviction in Florida comes with many penalties. Not only do you face fines, fees and jail time but also you have to worry about the other consequences that come along with being a felon. You may lose some rights. Loss of rights may occur only for a short...
Florida imprisons some 98,000 people. Can we cut that in half?
The ACLU’s Smart Justice initiative has been working on reining in mass-incarceration. The large majority of people in jails and prisons in the United States are held by state and local governments, so reducing over-incarceration at the state level is crucial....
‘Minor’ crimes can carry major financial consequences
There are certain crimes that society tends to view as being fairly minor. Many misdemeanors may fall under this category. It is important to remember, however, that being accused of such crimes can still have significant impacts on your life. For example, misdemeanor...
Will Florida one day follow Utah to a 0.05 legal limit?
One key element in Florida drunk driving law is the legal limit. This sets what BAC level it is automatically a drunk driving offense for a person to drive at or above in the state. So, this limit has big impacts on what kinds of situations are likely to lead to a...
In Florida, DUI convictions can lead to cars being impounded
If a person is convicted of DUI, the conviction can have many impacts on his or her driver's license and his or her vehicles. Typically, DUI convictions come with license suspensions. Here in Florida, they also often come with vehicle impoundment. Under state law,...
New animal cruelty law goes into effect on October 1
On October 1, 2018, a new law goes into effect changing the penalties for cruelty to animals. Section 828.12 (6) of Florida Statutes states that a person convicted of animal cruelty laws can result in the court ordering to stop them from having custody and control...
Felony convictions and the right to vote in Florida
Being convicted of a felony can deeply change a person’s life. This is especially the case here in Florida. In the state, certain civil rights are lost if a person receives such a conviction. For example, a felony conviction triggers an automatic and permanent loss of...