Palm Beach Criminal Defense Blog
This blawg covers information about law and order in Florida for both practitioners and potential clients. Also some discussions about evidence and the death penalty.
Author: Ron Chapman is a solo practitioner in West Palm Beach, Fla. He also helps maintain Florida Lawyers Blog Watch.
Blawg Related Categories: Criminal Justice • Death Penalty • Sentencing/Post Conviction • Trials & Litigation • Evidence • Solo / Small Firm • Legal Information • Private Defense
Recent Posts from Palm Beach Criminal Defense Blog
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Still Another Way to Avoid Prison
I previously published two articles on this website entitled "Florida Sentencing and Drug Court Programs" and "Amended Law Provides Additional Ways to Avoid Prison." Both of those articles looked at new laws that make it…
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Amended Law Provides Additional Ways to Avoid Prison
Earlier this month, I published an article on this website entitled Florida Sentencing and Drug Court Programs in which I noted that if a criminal defendant has more than 44 total sentence points on…
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When is Someone in Constructive Possession of Drugs?
In order to prove someone guilty of the crime of trafficking in cocaine, a prosecutor must establish that the accused individual knowingly was in either actual possession or constructive possession of 28 grams or…
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Florida Sentencing and Drug Court Programs
Florida's sentencing guidelines determine sentences for felony offenses (except for death-penalty cases) based primarily on the following two factors: The conduct associated with the offense. (For example, manslaughter is a Level 7 on the guidelines…
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Expungement of Your Criminal Record and Your Right to Have a Hearing
When someone seeking to have her criminal-history record sealed or expunged files the appropriate paperwork with the Court including a certificate of eligibility issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, that person is legally…
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Expungement of Criminal Records and Judges' Rulings
The rule that governs the expunction of criminal history records in Florida states that “any request for expunction of a criminal history record may be denied at the sole discretion of the court.” Nevertheless,…
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Double Jeopardy and Dismissal of Charges
The Double Jeopardy Clause, which is contained in the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, states that no person shall "be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of…
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Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Be Careful What You Agree To
Imagine the following scenario: You have been charged in federal court with one count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. After reviewing the prosecutor's evidence against you, you decide that it is in your…
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Death Penalty: Was an Innocent Man Executed?
It is becoming more and more commonplace to hear news accounts of individuals who were convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to death, and then released years later after it was discovered (typically through DNA testing)…
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Violation of Probation and Hearsay
It has long been the law in Florida that a person's probation cannot be violated based solely upon hearsay. This particular rule of law was at issue in the case of Lewis v. State…