When a Florida inmate is sentenced to death row, their cause of death is generally thought to be out of their control unless their lawyer can find evidence to exonerate them while waiting on death row. This may not be the case, however, as Florida law may make it possible for inmates to choose their…
In the state of Florida, it is relatively common for Florida police to seize property they believe may be used to further a crime or criminal activity. This concept is known as civil asset forfeiture, but a new federal policy could allow police to legally take a Florida resident’s property even if they are not…
Current Florida law allows people who are wrongfully imprisoned and convicted in Florida to receive compensation, with one important exception. Namely, felons who have committed a felony either before or after the wrongful imprisonment are not eligible for this compensation. However, lawmakers are ready to change this requirement, known as the “clean hands” requirement of…
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Florida’s death penalty appeal in what has been a turbulent legal saga. Florida had already undergone a year of legal certainty regarding its death penalty before Governor Scott signed a death penalty fix in March of 2017. Governor Scott’s latest fix required a jury to be unanimous in order…
Bitcoin, a form of virtual currency, is highly popular among some who value the currency’s anonymity and encryption techniques designed to protect privacy. For clear reasons, these traits are highly valued by some criminals looking to further criminal activity while bypassing traditional banking systems. The increased prevalence of using Bitcoin to further criminal activity or…
All laws, at least in theory, are created with the intention of improving the lives, safety, and welfare of the public. Florida passed its anti-opioid laws with similarly good intentions, hoping to take high-level opioid traffickers off the streets. Years after Florida started its crackdown against opioids in the 1990s, there are reasons to suggest…
The first thing that probably leaps to mind when thinking about safety risks on the road is likely to be drunk drivers. This makes sense, as drunk drivers cause nearly 1 in 3 traffic deaths in the United States. Even so, road rage is another all too common road incident that needlessly jeopardizes the safety…
In October of 2016, Florida’s Supreme Court held that the state’s death penalty law was unconstitutional. Since then, prosecutors were left wondering whether this ruling affected cases that were currently being prosecuted. Now, the state’s Supreme Court has clarified this issue. Florida Supreme Court Allows Current Death Penalty Cases to Continue Despite the ongoing issues…
Ever since the Trayvon Martin shooting demanded the country’s full attention a little over five years ago, Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law has had its time in the national spotlight. The high-profile law permits Florida citizens to commit violence in self-defense is under renewed scrutiny, thanks to recent news and a potential expansion of “stand…
Murder witnesses can play a crucial role in identifying who has committed a murder, but their safety can also be jeopardized if it becomes known that they “snitched”. Florida legislators are now considering a new bill that will give witnesses enhanced protection by keeping a witness’s identity confidential. The so-called “witness protection” bill is designed…
