In the quest for a better and more comfortable life, man has various types of technological gadgets. This has opened up the tech age on which we are part of now. Even if the technological era has made our life simpler, it also brought some disadvantages. It appears that some of the technologies we areRead More
Category: Criminal Procedure
Tattoos and Rap
Several members of the Latin Kings gang were arrested in Florida for racketeering and other charges. 23 of its members were incriminated in the process of indictment, as associates of one of the biggest and most well organized gangs in the country. The trial sparked controversy and great surprise when the most powerful evidence presentedRead More
How Far Can The Government Go In Freezing Untainted Assets of Individuals Charged With Crimes?
The constitution basically provides protection for an individual who has been arrested for committing a crime. There are rights that remain effective even before court procedures commence. Because freedom is at stake in the process, the 5th and 6th Amendment ensures that an individual will have legal assistance. An accused can choose the attorney toRead More
What Kinds of Testimonial Privileges Do We Have In a Criminal Case?
Do we have any privileges that will prevent people from testifying against us in a criminal case? While most people are aware of, or partially understand the rights afforded to them, including the protection from self-incrimination, it is less commonly known that there are laws that can aid an individual in preventing others from testifyingRead More
Boynton Beach Police Officer Accused Of Rape | Seeking Pretrial Release
Stephen Maiorino, a married Boynton Beach police officer and a father of two, has been accused of on-duty rape and is seeking pretrial release. The prosecutor called the officer a danger to the victim and the rest of the community. The defense attorney claims the sexual encounter was “consensual”. Maiorino is facing two counts ofRead More
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel | Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850 An appeal based on the Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850, is an appeal of last resort. It is used when all other appeals have been exhausted. This appeal is a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, in which the defense attorney was unprepared, orRead More
Double Jeopardy | Tuttle v. State
Double Jeopardy Tuttle v. State Depending on which crime an individual is charged with determines the severity of penalties someone may face if ultimately convicted. As we have discussed in other posts, the prosecutor’s decision on which charge to file matters. In Tuttle v. State, Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals reviews a case inRead More
Florida Supreme Court | Recording Cannot Be Used As Evidence
Two-Party Consent Law The Florida Supreme Court ruled in McDade v. State of Florida, that secretly recorded statements by the victim of a crime cannot be used as evidence against the defendant; this applies even in cases of child sex abuse, or neglect. It was unanimously decided by the justices that the FloridaLegislature would haveRead More
Drug Trafficking | State v. Sanchez
Drug Trafficking Charge Not All Charges Are Equal There are often completely different outcomes in similar criminal cases depending on the statute an individual is charged with. Prosecution must be accurate and precise in their charging decisions. Charging someone with the wrong crime can result in charges being dropped; cases are lost all the timeRead More
Federal Crimes
Federal Crimes What are Federal Laws? Federal laws are passed by Congress and apply throughout the United States, including Washington D.C. Often times, criminal acts are considered offenses in both State and Federal law; prosecutors must then decide whether the perpetrator should be tried in State or Federal Court. Some crimes are written in TitleRead More