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New Florida Legislation May Prevent Harsh Prison Sentences for First Time Drug Offenders
Categories: PostsIn the wake of the current opioid crisis, Florida prosecutors and law enforcement have stepped up their efforts to crack down on the growing epidemic. However, filling prison cells with those who suffer from addiction may not be an effective way to combat the problem. An ongoing problem calls for new measures That’s why one…
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Drugs Arrests On The Rise Nationwide
Categories: PostsRecent data released by the FBI indicates that drug arrests are on the rise across the United States. This trend has serious implications for the thousands of Floridians who are arrested every year on suspicion of drug-related offenses. Long prison terms and staggering fines can affect a defendant’s life for years to come. It is…
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What to Do After a Jacksonville DUI Arrest
Categories: PostsA drunk driving arrest is not just a frightening experience – it also places a suspect’s constitutional rights at stake. By knowing what to do during and after a drunk driving arrest, suspects can protect their rights under state and federal law. The legal advice of a Jacksonville criminal defense attorney can also help DUI…
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Enhanced Holiday Enforcement Can Lead to More Jacksonville DUI Arrests During Thanksgiving
Categories: PostsLaw enforcement agencies across the country increase their DUI enforcement efforts during the holiday season. DUI checkpoints, public awareness campaigns, and other strategic efforts can all increase the likelihood of being arrested for DUI over the Thanksgiving holiday. Be sure to contact an experienced Jacksonville DUI lawyer after any DUI arrest. You have constitutional rights…
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What to Do at a Jacksonville DUI Checkpoint
Categories: PostsWhile DUI checkpoints can be important safety measures, they also have the potential for violation of a person’s constitutional rights. Drivers have legal rights which are protected by both the Constitution and state laws. Learn more about how to protect these rights during interactions with law enforcement officers at DUI checkpoints. The Do’s and Don’ts…
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Underage DUI in Florida Can Be Costly
Categories: PostsDUI is a criminal offense under the Florida Statutes. This means that a person who drives under the influence is simultaneously: (1) guilty of a criminal offense; (2) liable for damages arising from the accident in a civil lawsuit; and (3) guilty of attendant traffic offenses which contribute to the accident. Defendants under the age…
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Even First-Offense Drug Possession Charges Carry Serious Consequences in Florida
Categories: PostsFor many defendants in Florida, the sentencing provisions of drug possession laws may come as an unpleasant surprise. Penalties for drug possession can be severe – even for a first offense. The so-called “War on Drugs” is known to have failed, yet laws remain stringent – and some cases, thanks to overzealous legislators and prosecutors,…
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Florida Stand Your Ground Law Strengthened
Categories: PostsFlorida Governor Rick Scott amended the state’s Stand Your Ground Law, and as our Jacksonville criminal defense lawyers will tell you, this will make it easier for a defendant to successfully claim self-defense in the commission of violent acts. Previously, F.S. Sections 776.012, and 776.013 held that defendants had to prove they were acting in self-defense. Now,…
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Jacksonville Criminal Defense Lawyers Discuss Return of Minimum Mandatory Sentencing
Categories: PostsWith the 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Alleyne v. U.S., it seemed as we might as a nation be collectively moving away from the rigid, nonsensical rules of minimum mandatory sentencing within our criminal justice system. Such guidelines were a knee-jerk response to the 1980s scourge of crack-cocaine addiction that led to violent crimes…
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Jacksonville DUI Charges Not Limited to Alcohol
Categories: PostsXanax, Valium, Ativan and Klonopin each fall under a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, controlled substances typically prescribed to address anxiety. They, like other drugs meant to treat mental conditions, can also be abused. While popular and successful for the treatment of anxiety among other disorders, these medications are known to have an effect…