Recently, the Supreme Court reaffirmed a long-standing legal theory- the Constitution does not protect you from being prosecuted twice for the same incident; once in state court and once in federal court. For example, guns are regulated under both state and federal law. In certain areas, state and federal law overlap-they prohibit the same conduct. But how do twin prosecutions actually happen? What are the factors that could lead someone to be prosecuted a second time over the same conduct? Terance Gamble's experience as a defendant sheds new light on the issue.
What Should You Do When You Have Been Charged with Solicitation of a Minor?
We are frequently asked what the most important thing a person can so when he learns he is being investigated for solicitation of a minor. The use of a computer to engage in or attempt to engage in acts with a minor can be charged as several crimes. First, the accused can be charged with using a computer to have a minor send pornographic pictures. Likewise, the computer may be used to solicit a minor to meet for sexual encounter. Alternatively, a defendant can be charged with traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of engaging in an unlawful act. An additional charge of use of a communication device, namely a phone, to commit a felony is also typically charged. The vast majority of cases are charged under the Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act, § 847.0135, Fla. Stat. (2018). In addition to criminal penalties of up to fifteen years incarceration per court, potential damages of "at least $150,000" can be recovered in a civil lawsuit brought by a minor against the accused, pursuant to § 847.01357, Fla. Stat. (2018).
Appeal Victory Paves Way for Trial in Race Discrimination Lawsuit Against JFRD
The Sheppard, White, Kachergus, and DeMaggio team won another appeal in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals last week. The case involved race discrimination and retaliation claims against the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. Our client, Captain Eric Mitchell, was the second-highest ranking officer at the department's training academy and was its only African-American employee at the time the incident occurred.
What is the knock-and-announce rule?
Police in Florida and throughout the U.S. are required to follow a procedure known as the “knock-and-announce” rule. It applies to officers who are executing a search warrant and bars them from immediately forcing their way into a dwelling.
According to Cornell Law School, this rule is important in a judge’s consideration of how reasonable a search is under the Fourth Amendment, and it goes into their decision to approve a search warrant. Its guidelines are that police must knock and then identify themselves and why they are present. Then they must wait for a “reasonable time,” which is intended to give occupants the opportunity to open the door and allow police to enter.
America's depiction of juvenile crimes
Everyone makes mistakes, but not all Floridians understand the many phases young people can go through. Younger minds are susceptible to external influences, and can easily become wrapped up in a situation far too complex to understand. When a young person becomes involved in a juvenile crime, there are often many sides to the story.
In some cases, one thoughtless crime can result in the end of one's freedom entirely. ABC News considers the strictness of penalties for juvenile crime, bringing to attention the 1999 case of Lionel Tate, a Florida native who killed his 6-year-old friend while wrestling. Tate was 12 at the time of the incident, but was tried as an adult under a 1981 Florida statute. Although the numbers of juvenile murder arrests have plummeted in the last few decades, ABC points out that Florida nevertheless has the second-highest juvenile violent crime rate in the country. Some lawmakers have demanded a reassessment of the state's strict laws, arguing that its views on juvenile maturity are severely antiquated.
Penalties for juvenile crime: are they too severe?
A large majority of Florida adults can look back at their youth and agree that it contained a rough streak or two. Many can relate to situations in which they were harshly judged for poor decisions at a young age, and some even have experiences in juvenile detention and other correctional institutions.
While setting young people up for success is the goal of many parents, teachers, coaches and mentors, a strict penalty for a small crime is not always the answer. Recently, experts have considered the ways Florida officials handle youth crime, pointing to more effective ways to deal with serious incidents and the adolescents that cause them.
Can a field sobriety test prove intoxication?
If you have been stopped by a law enforcement officer and during what started off as a routine traffic stop you are asked by the officer if you have been drinking, you may soon find yourself investigated for potential drunk driving. Part of the process involved in a suspected drunk driving investigation is the administration of what are called field sobriety tests. If you are requested to take these tests, you should know what they are really for.
While the name implies that these tests may identify whether or not you are sober, that is not actually the case. As explained by FieldSobrietyTests.org, these test are not used for that purpose in part because they really cannot prove any such thing. Instead, field sobriety tests are used to collect evidence that supports the potential that you might be drunk. If an officer is able to say that you failed one of these tests, they may be able to legally arrest you and charge you with a drunk driving offense.
Judge Walker Declares Florida's Clemency Process Unconstitutional
Florida's restoration of civil rights process is designed to make it virtually impossible for convicted felons to regain their fundamental constitutional rights, such as the right to vote. On February 1, 2018, Judge Walker, federal district judge for the Northern District of Florida declared the process to be unconstitutional. As politicians in Tallahassee continue to attempt to suppress the right to vote (see its recent efforts to tally a non-vote as a NO vote in constitutional amendments placed on the ballot for citizen consideration), it is now more important than ever that our federal courts reject these blatant efforts to diminish our voices. This is not a political issue; it is a matter of protecting the fundamental constitutional rights of all citizens in this state. Rather than continuing to discourage, and indeed, prevent people from exercising their constitutional right to vote, this governor and his legislature should be affirmatively looking for ways to make the ability to vote more, not less, inclusive. A copy of Judge Walker's opinion can be found here.
Realities of using an ignition interlock device
People in Florida who are charged with a driving under the influence offense need to gather information about their defense options but also about the potential penalties they may experience if they are ultimately convicted of the charge. As explained by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, one of these penalties may be the required installation and use of an ignition interlock device.
If a driver must use an IID, they must work only with one of the manufacturers and provides authorized by the state. These companies will not only provide the device itself but will also provide reporting to the court on all tests taken. Some of these reports may be provided electronically. The costs for the installation and all maintainence of the devices as well as any rental fees are generally to be paid for by the driver.
Standing up against abuse of prison guard power
Prison guard abuse is an issue many might assume is no longer common in today's society; unfortunately, however, the problem persists in detention centers across the nation. Yet this problem is often a hidden one, making it all the more complex and dangerous. Families and friends, unaware of various forms of abuse that take place within prison walls, are horrified to find that their loved ones do not receive adequate protection and care. While mistreatment in Florida prisons can take many different forms, the reality that countless prisoners must face daily is one that cannot continue.
While the media has certainly placed immense focus on this topic in recent years, not all observations have proved optimistic. Vice News sees the issue as an important one, but also one that may be difficult to tackle -- prison abuse has become part of a vicious cycle in the country's incarceration system. Prison guards often berate and isolate inmates to unnecessary extremes, which, in turn, can inflict lasting trauma on the victim. Vice also points out the lack of mental health support in prison systems; as a result, many inmates do not receive the care they need, and some even end up back behind bars. To make matters worse, many corrupt guards face no penalties for their actions, despite how damaging their abuse may have been.
