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Miami Beach, on July 8, 2015, approved a local Ordinance effectively decriminalizing possession of marijuana. The sanction is now a $100 civil citation. This goes beyond the recent Miami-Dade County Ordinance giving police officers discretion to write a civil citation or instead charge the offender with a misdemeanor for which an arrest can be made. A PTA promise to appear in Court may be provided in lieu of an arrest. Miami Beach is the first mun...

On May 2, 2014, Florida became the latest state to pass a highly restrictive 'medical marijuana' bill to allow limited access to cannabinol based medical marijuana. The bill, often referred to as the "Charlotte's Web" bill, would legalize this specialized strain of cannabis for a small number of patients. The original bill only focused on children with seizures, however it was expanded to a restrictive number of cancer patients as well. The bill al...

Hate crimes continue to exist in today's society. These crimes exhibit a violent act of prejudice against a victim's gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Often times, it is difficult to identify what constitutes as a hate crime due to the Constitution that protects certain rights such as the freedom of speech, expression, and religion. However, in order to properly distinguish a hate crime, it must invol...

The law consists of three basic classifications of criminal offenses including infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies. Each criminal offense is differentiated by the severity of the crime committed which determines its classification. State legislatures and Congress assign the factors and behaviors for every criminal offense; therefore, the classification and penalties vary by state for each. Below is an analysis of classifications pertaining to the th...

Domestic violence is a crime that is defined as the consistent destructive behavior in a relationship where a partner maintains power and control over their partner. Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of their race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It is observed in all levels of relationship statuses including married couples and couples who are dating or living together. It is also important to be aware that there are sever...

In the situation where a person is accused of committing a crime, it is critical that they acquire the right criminal defense lawyer since they may be encountering serious consequences. One must conduct extensive research as there are many factors to consider before selecting a criminal defense lawyer. Contemplating such factors may increase the chances of your case resulting in a successful outcome. When deciding to obtain a criminal defense lawyer,...

Criminal acts are defined by the federal congress or a state legislature and are usually punished by fines or jail time. The law presumes that any defendant accused of a crime is innocent until proven guilty. It is beneficial for those who encounter the accusation of a crime to obtain the help of an experienced criminal defense attorney. Criminal defense attorneys handle a variety of criminal cases and every case is classified under a certain category. ...

As of July 1, 2013, the DUI Law in Florida has changed dramatically. The amended law changes the calculations of risk and benefit, both for breath test refusals and for breath tests over .08. When arrested for DUI, individuals can now choose whether or not to have an administrative hearing where driving privileges may be suspended. If you are a first-time DUI defendant, you will have to choose between two options on how you want to proceed: Adminis...

Many Americans are familiar with legal trouble, either through personal or secondhand experience. Thus they know how frustrating and confusing it can be to navigate the legal world, not to mention costly and time-consuming. However, dealing with legal trouble does not always have to be so stressful and there are options to help alleviate the aggravation. Choosing an experienced criminal lawyer, for instance, is the first step in the right direction. ...

You're busted. The police, not to mention the prosecutor, feel they have enough evidence to take you to trial. And if you're found guilty, you could spend time behind bars. But if you're found innocent, you go free. At least, isn't that the way it goes on TV? Perhaps. But the problem is your life isn't a scripted TV show. And deciding on whether or not to go through with a trial can be the most important decision you'll ever make, often affecting the...