There is no question that the whole process of being pulled over and subsequently arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence can prove to be confusing, embarrassing and altogether frightening. That’s because one minute you were minding your own business behind the wheel, while the next minute you were stopped on the side of the road, asked a multitude…
From weapons offenses and drug crimes to sex crimes and homicides, there are certain criminal offenses that we know — or at least suspect — are almost always charged as felonies by law enforcement officials. However, it’s important to know that there is certain activity that a person might not even realize is a crime, let alone a more serious…
When it comes to marijuana, there’s really no disputing that things have changed considerably here in the U.S. over the last decade. Indeed, 23 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, 19 states have partially or fully decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, and four states have even legalized marijuana for recreational purposes. Despite this seismic shift in the…
In a series of ongoing posts, we’ve spent some time exploring how anyone convicted of a sex crime here in Florida must register as either a sexual predator or sexual offender upon their release, as well as the rather draconian reporting requirements that accompany each of these classifications under state law. In light of just how onerous and stringent these…
Every year more than eight million college students across the U.S. receive much-needed assistance from the federal government in the form of Pell grants. For those unfamiliar with this financial aid, it is essentially an educational gift, not a loan, awarded to deserving students based on factors such as cost of tuition and need. Interestingly enough, inmates in both state…
In a previous post, we discussed how the U.S. Controlled Substances Act classifies drugs and other chemicals into five separate classes based on 1) their accepted medical use, and 2) their potential for dependency or abuse. To recap, those drugs classified as Schedule II drugs are those with an accepted medical use subject to severe restrictions, and a very high…
If asked to identify those states with the most draconian criminal laws, meaning those that are the most severe in terms of punishment, there is a very good chance most people would list places like Texas, California and, of course, Florida. While this may cause seem like an unfair characterization to some, those who have actually been arrested, charged and…
Many people may not know the “schedule” system for controlled substances. In fact, many people may not know what a controlled substance is. To the latter, the answer is very simple: it is any illicit drug that will have a negative impact on a person’s welfare, livelihood or health. To the former, the answer is a bit more complex. The…
Over the last few years, the Drug Enforcement Administration has been directing considerable resources to combating the proliferation of synthetic drugs. For those unfamiliar with these drugs, sold under names like spice or salvia, they are designed to mimic the high of other illegal drugs and can prove to be dangerous to the health of users. These efforts to crack…
Right now, college students across Florida are heading back to their dorm rooms, apartments and campus houses for the start of the fall semester. It goes without saying that the majority of these college students will be hitting the books, but it also goes without saying that many will be hitting the streets to head to area hotspots, including bars…
