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A solid drug possession defense begins with a thorough review of the prosecution’s evidence, which an experienced criminal defense attorney will complete with an air of skepticism, particularly in light of Florida’s current ‘chain of custody’ laws.

According to the Florida Department of Corrections, it costs approximately $49.49 per day – or over $18,000 per year – to house an inmate in one of the 56 correctional facilities across the state. With over 100,000 inmates currently incarcerated, this leads to a staggering drain on the state’s budget, prompting lawmakers to consider other viable options.

A Violation of Probation (VOP) charge can be very distressing for the accused individual and may be further aggravated by the potential effect of a conviction on visitation, parental responsibility or other family law matters.

In Florida, as is the case elsewhere, criminal defendants may be held liable for injuries caused to others as a result of their severe disregard for the safety of others — put another way, injuries that arise from their “culpable negligence.” Culpable negligence is a crime that many are unfamiliar with. It’s important to understand how culpable negligence works, however, as it can apply to situations where the defendant may not realize that criminal liability is possible.

According to the mission statement of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), its goal is to “promote public safety and strengthen domestic security….while protecting Florida’s citizens and visitors.” Pursuant to this measure, the Department has initiated an investigation into a privately-run juvenile facility believed to be turning its back on the safety and integrity of the residents – possibly resulting in the rampant sexual victimization of males aged 13-18.

The legal process involved following an alleged incident of domestic violence can be especially complex, and working with an experienced domestic battery attorney can help defendants avoid unintentionally waiving their rights or altering the outcome in favor of the complainant.

When it comes to criminal statutes, the Supreme Court has long-held that the language must be concise, clear, and specific enough to place citizens “on notice” of exactly what sort of conduct is prohibited. If a criminal statute is too vague – presumably leaving its applicability open to the government’s subjective interpretation – it is usually deemed unconstitutional and lawmakers are sent back to the drawing board.

Under well-established rules of evidence, introducing a recording – particularly an unconsented audio recording – of information alleged to be relevant to the case requires proper authentication and preparation for inevitable hearsay objections. Reason being, there is a strong possibility for fraud, exaggeration, enhancement and various other digital problems associated with a recording, which could unfairly prejudice a defendant standing trial for an alleged assault.

The United States Supreme Court has applied considerable focus upon whittling away at the maximum sentence applicable to a juvenile criminal defendant. Not long ago, the Court held that juveniles could no longer face the death penalty – no matter the conviction. More recently, the Court held that a juvenile life sentence is only available in murder cases and eliminating the possibility of parole is also considered unconstitutional against minors.

Posting items for sale in a ‘classified ad’ section is hardly new technology. However, the advent of websites like “Craig’s List” provides an unprecedented level of anonymity for sellers, which has proven dangerous – and deadly – in dozens of criminal incidents over the past several years.