Assault and battery arrests in Florida may arise from a quickly-evolving altercation, but have the potential for long-term impact on one’s life. These cases may be charged by prosecutors as either misdemeanors or felonies. F.S. 784.03 outlines felony battery in Florida as occurring when a person intentionally and actually touches…
Most people are familiar with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The organization’s main stated goal is to reduce the number of drunk driving fatalities in the U.S. In addition to their many advertising campaigns like you might see reflected on billboards as you drive on I-95 in Fort Lauderdale, they…
From time to time, drivers in the Fort Lauderdale area will get arrested on suspicion of DUI when they have a child in the car. Whether it’s a teenager or a small child, the charges imposed will likely be the same. Whenever this happens, the prosecutor tries to make it…
Authorities made a South Florida arrest for DUI and child endangerment in Boynton Beach after allegedly discovering a woman drunk behind the wheel of a car in a parking lot with four children jumping in and out of the sunroof. According to The Sun Sentinel, the engine of the vehicle…
Citizens have certain constitutional rights when it comes to interactions with police and other law enforcement agencies. Those rights do not disappear the moment they get behind the wheel of a car. Still, it is true that motorists don’t necessarily have free reign in police interactions. For example, there is…
The former director of the Florida State Parks was recently arrested for DUI with property damage and hit-and-run, according to the Tallahassee Democrat, which explained the arrest occurred after defendant was stopped by troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol. According to reports, the former official, who also previously worked for…
City police in Hollywood are taking aim at those previously arrested for domestic violence, vowing beefed up penalties and scrutiny – up to and including unannounced, uninvited police checks on individual residences. The Miami Herald reports the letter, an effort initiated by the city police department’s Domestic Violence Unit, is a way of…
Throngs of spring breakers and tourists start to flood Florida coasts beginning in March, with spring break hitting its peak around the middle of the month. However, those who came for a week may find they are dealing with our court system for much longer. The Sun-Sentinel reported spring breakers…
Florida state senators in the Criminal Justice Committee are weighing a measure that would decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in the Sunshine State. If passed, violators would receive a civil citation instead of facing arrest. Possession of less than one ounce would be considered a first-degree misdemeanor, for…
Over the last several decades, the American criminal justice system has relied increasingly on forensic testing to definitively identify suspects, nail down timelines and prove or disprove theories about what happened and who was involved. However, there is an increasing amount of data showing that some of these methods are…