People in Florida litter all of the time. You cannot drive more than a block around here without seeing trash that was discarded along the side of the road. Most people probably assume that the penalty for getting caught littering is a fine. There are signs along some roads which…
In Florida, there is a criminal statute that addresses the neglect of a child. The statute is problematic because it is broadly written. The effect is that police officers have very broad discretion to arrest a person for child neglect. And prosecutors similarly have wide discretion when deciding whether to…
In Florida, and likely in all of the other states as well, it is illegal for a person to prevent another from reporting a crime or otherwise providing information about criminal activity to the police or in court. This is part of a more inclusive statute dealing with witness tampering. …
We at Lasnetski Gihon Law do not handle much in the way of family law matters, but we came across a case that illustrates a possible connection between an order that is common in divorce cases and a potential criminal violation in Florida courts. In divorce cases where a minor…
A recent encounter between a suspect and a police officer near Jacksonville, Florida illustrates that police do not have free reign to question suspects and detain them based on mere suspicions or the fact that they do not like a person’s answers. In light of recent police shootings and some…
In Florida, it is a crime to make a threat to kill or cause bodily injury to someone or someone’s family member. In fact, it is a very serious second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison if the threat is communicated to the victim or his/her…
In Florida, a person who gets sentenced to jail might be able to take advantage of a work release program for inmates if the jail offers such a program. For instance, in Jacksonville, the Duval County jail allows certain inmates to leave the facility to go to an approved job…
In Florida, the crime of burglary involves a person breaking into or entering a place with the intent to commit a theft or other crime inside. The crime of burglary in Florida can get a little complicated based on the type of place that is entered, where the defendant was…
In Florida, vehicular manslaughter cases are very serious. That seems obvious, but states and counties treat these crimes differently depending on how prosecutors’ offices and judges view them. Vehicular homicide often involves a defendant who did not intend to commit a crime and has never been in trouble before doing…
The Stand Your Ground law in Florida is a much publicized area of Florida criminal law that addresses when a defendant can gain immunity for using force and causing death or serious injury in self defense. It is not available to every defendant who is charged with a serious violent…