Many people do their best to comply with police requests during traffic stops. They believe that cooperating with law enforcement officers will result in a more favorable outcome. In many cases, the opposite is actually true. Obviously, disrespecting or threatening...
If you have faced charges or a conviction in the past, you may think that the crimes committed will follow you forever. They certainly can be problematic, because these records, no matter how old, can impact your ability to get a job, go to school with student aid or...
Unfortunately, the state of Florida remains steadfast in its stance against using and possessing cannabis in any form. The only possible exception is if a licensed physician recommends that you use marijuana for medical reasons. Until the state catches up with other...
Florida shoplifting offenses often involving juveniles and impulsive crimes. When a teenager steals a small item they want but can't or don't wish to pay for, they stick it in their pocket, inside their purse or up their shirt before exiting the store as quickly as...
The Bill of Rights extends many protections to those accused of criminal offenses. Each amendment extends certain rights that neither state nor federal laws can limit. The Fourth Amendment protects you against police misconduct that leads to unreasonable searches....
You get arrested when the police enter your home and find a bag of illegal drugs in your bedroom. They consider it an open-and-shut case. The drugs were obviously at your house, you were there at the time, your fingerprints are on the case where the bag was found and...
Grand juries are often impaneled for some of the more serious felony cases. Prosecutors impanel grand juries to aid them in determining whether they should bring charges against a suspect. Both the state and the federal government may impanel grand juries. You may...
Getting arrested for drug possession will mean going to court, risking incarceration and paying costly fines. Even those who avoid incarceration will likely face probation and will have to deal with a criminal record for the rest of their lives. Fighting back against...
Many individuals use the terms "assault and battery" in unison -- or even interchangeably -- with one another. Most jurisdictions classify these two crimes as two distinct criminal offenses, however. You may find it helpful to learn the actual difference between...
Having a criminal record limits your options in life. It can keep you from renting a house in the best neighborhoods, prevent you from receiving student aid for higher education and even affect your professional licensing. In theory, criminal records serve to help...